Munster Rugby attack coach Mike Prendergast says win over Leinster would be 'massive'

MUNSTER Rugby attack coach Mike Prendergast said a victory over great rivals Leinster in their sold-out St Stephen's Day United Rugby Championship fixture at Thomond Park, 7.35pm, would be massive for the side.

This is the first time in three years that Munster will host Leinster over the Christmas period in Limerick as the festive fixture in both 2020 and 2021 was postponed due to Covid-19.

Munster will be aiming to end Leinster's three-game winning run at Thomond Park when the provincial sides renew rivalry at Thomond Park on December 26.

Indeed, Leinster have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides, the only Munster victory coming in a Rainbow Cup fixture in 2021.

Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast said: "(A win) would be huge. I think kind of since the Bulls game there has been aspects of our game, parts of our game that have moved on week by week and I think if we were to finish off the year by (beating) Europe’s top team it would be a massive, massive win for us, for confidence wise and just moving forward. It would be huge.

"Obviously we have had a decent enough two weeks (in Heineken Champions Cup), good performances, against Toulouse obviously came up short in terms of the result, performance wise I thought we showed a lot of good aspects of our game against a good European Cup side and last weekend (v Northampton) was a good victory in different circumstances maybe.

"But we showed grit and a huge desire to keep them out and it was a kind of workmanlike, I suppose, victory. It was a different type of victory but a very good one.

"And then obviously you lead into this, into Leinster this week, a huge game and you test yourself against the best. They have showed that over the couple few years and even more so this year.

"They have probably added even a small bit more to their game in terms of their attack shape, etc and in terms of their maul and it’s something we have to be well prepared for.

"But in terms of the occasion and everything, having crowds back, 26,00 people filling Thomond Park, yeah, we are really looking forward to it and we have spoken about that all week."