Munster Rugby's Craig Casey: 'You've got to turn the page quickly'

MUNSTER Rugby scrum half Craig Casey says Munster must move on quickly from this week's frustrating United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster and switch focus to their crucial New Year's Day clash with Ulster at Kingspan Stadium, 5.15pm.

Munster travel to Belfast having won just one of their last seven fixtures against fellow Irish provinces a 24-17 success at home to Connacht at the end of November.

Meanwhile, Munster’s only victory in their last six visits to Belfast was a 24-17 success last April.

Scrum-half Casey stresses the importance of putting the disappointment of the 20-19 St Stephen's Day loss to Leinster behind them quickly as the interpro meeting with Ulster looms.

"Every interpro is huge. You see how much it means to both teams. Going up to Ulster is always a huge scalp. We will look forward to it. We will dissect ourselves down, take the learnings and crack on to the week," Casey said.

“You got to turn the page quickly these days because they are coming thick and fast and every game is massive, like you said, they are all must-wins. We will take our learnings and get excited for Sunday."

Casey said that while there may be extra pressure on the interprovincial derbies, they are the fixtures players live for.

“Every week you put the pressure on yourself, don't you, to get better and perform," Casey said.

"With interpros, there is always an extra bit of pressure on you but they are the moments you live for.

“I mean if we had won that game tonight, the pressure is nothing really, you show you can play under pressure. We lost by a point, but the pressure is there every week. You put yourself under that pressure as a player. I don't think anyone else puts you under that pressure.”