Munster Rugby target URC success in Edinburgh

MUNSTER Rugby will look to make it back-to-back wins in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this Friday night when facing Edinburgh at The Dam Health Stadium, 7.35pm.

Munster secured a precious 24-17 URC interprovincial bonus point win over Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday night in their first fixture in a demanding block of 10 games over the coming weeks and months.

Munster will look to back up the interprovincial derby win in Scotland on Friday night. Head coach Graham Rowntree is expecting a stern test.

“We have got a huge game Friday night. I have got to pick the right team because we have got a few bangs,” Rowntree said.
“I look at Edinburgh and Glasgow’s selection this weekend, they have obviously been saving a few guys. We have got a big challenge.”

Munster Rugby head coach Rowntree believed his side played 'a lot better' in securing a bonus point win over Connacht last weekend than it had when the same two sides met in Galway in October.

Rowntree said of his side's win: “We were smart with the ball. Our kicking game was smart, our maul and maul defence was good. Our discipline is still a work-on. We are still giving teams access to our 22. I was pleased with the win.

“It wasn’t perfect by any means, I said that to the lads afterwards. They’re a good team but compared to our performance down in Galway last month, we were a lot better.

“There has been a lot of development. We're still learning. We’ve had more training time with the coaches, a bit more of a settled squad. We had a lot of moving parts last month with unavailability. We just kept hammering at what we have been doing well in training.”

Rowntree insists that Munster won't turn their thoughts to the glamour home Heineken Champions Cup pool fixture with Toulouse at Thomond Park on December 11 until after Friday night's game with Edinburgh is played.

“Seriously, we won’t speak about Europe until after this game. We will see who comes through Friday night.

“Let’s build on this momentum on Friday night and then Europe will take care of itself.”