Munster's season is on the line against Ulster

Munster face Ulster on Friday evening at Thomond Park with defeat not looking like an option for either side if they are harbouring any hope of dragging themselves into URC title contention this year.

Munster’s form has completely fallen off a cliff since the seismic win in La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last-16 tie in early April. 

The hope was that the win in France would kickstart Munster’s silverware push, but that win, as good as it was, looks a false dawn now.

The huge issues at lineout time have been a big part of this dip in form with the fact that Munster’s lineout coach Alex Codling has been double jobbing with the women’s national team not helping. 

A team of Munster’s level should not be going into the most important games of their season without key coaches at pitchside and it also illustrates how there is still a hangover from Graham Rowntree’s departure from the club late last year.

DAMAGING

The past few weeks have seen Munster exit the Champions Cup in Bordeaux, before suffering extremely damaging URC defeats at the hands of the Bulls and Cardiff. 

The season is very much on the line now. 

Two wins are required to ensure they reach the URC playoffs, but as importantly these wins are required to garner the 2026 Champions Cup qualification berth that comes with a top-eight finish.

It is all well and good scuppering this campaign with a poor run of form, but there is no need to scuttle next year as well.

All eyes will be on the aforementioned Munster lineout on Friday, as if that malfunctions once more then the home side could be in for a long evening in front of their own fans.

Health wise Munster are in a good place going into this tie. Mike Haley, Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash, Diarmuid Barron and Craig Casey all returned to action in Cardiff, while Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Liam Coombes, John Hodnett, Oli Jager, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Josh Wycherley are all back in training, so for once there can be no excuses on the injury front, as Munster should be locked and loaded.

Opponents Ulster had a mini March run of form when scoring 30, 34 and 38 points when beating the Scarlets, the Dragons and the Stormers in succession, but since then they have come somewhat unstuck, losing all three games since to Bordeaux-Begles, Leinster and the Sharks.

DROP

Those last two losses has seen them drop to 12th in the URC rankings and Richie Murphy’s side travel to Limerick knowing that a defeat on Friday will see their playoff and Champions Cup prospects effectively end.

This make them dangerous opponents, and they too make the trip south with a healthier-looking squad, as the likes of Michael Lowry, Stewart Moore, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Sean Reffell, James Hume, Eric O’Sullivan and the lesser-spotted Robert Baloucoune are all available for what looks like a season defining fixture for both sides.