Leinster trip next up for improving Munster as focus switches to URC
Munster won the corresponding game 31-14 and will be hoping to build on recent positive performances
Clayton McMillan’s side come into the game with their provincial rivals on the back of their Investec Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last week.
Munster are just ahead of Leinster in the URC table in ninth place and with nine points coming into the game at the Lansdowne Road venue.
Leinster are also coming into the game on the back of an impressive win over in France against Clermont Auvergne and will be out for revenge after the last time the sides played in Dublin.
Munster put in an excellent display in the 31-14 win a year ago and will be hopeful of something similar when the sides meet at the Aviva Stadium.
The province have been boosted with the news that star centre Alex Nankivell has signed a new two-year contract to remain at Munster until 2029.
McMillan’s men made hard work of the win over Racing in Cork with plenty still to work on heading into one of the marquee games of the season.
The improvements at set piece have been a breath of fresh air for Munster fans but they have yet to witness a full 80 minute performance since the season began last month.
To beat Leinster in Dublin is never easy and Munster’s wins last year and in the URC semi-final three-and-a-half years ago have been rare high points up in the capital.
However, Munster have some tangible positives coming into the latest chapter of the famed rivalry. Barely a month into the new season and tight heads Kieran Brooks and Jack Aungier have settled with impressive display.
Marnus van der Merwe, although quieter against Racing than the previous week against Ulster, has been a revelation since coming in during the summer from the Scarlets.
Charlie O’Shea put in another eye-catching display in Cork on his European debut but will no doubt be targeted if McMillan gives him the nod to play from the start at the Aviva.
Seán Edogbo and Brian Gleeson also did their long term hopes no harm against Racing, while Shay McCarthy arguably put in his best showing in a Munster derby to date.
One of the few negatives that McMillan may be working on in the run up to Saturday’s contest is Munster’s inability to put teams away in the early part of the season.
It took Craig Casey’s try late on to confirm victory over Racing in a game that Munster really should have put to bed by half time. That is the ruthless streak that Munster need to develop to have any hope of challenging for silverware this year or next.
The URC games against Glasgow Warriors and Ulster, and less so against the Bulls, as well as the Champions Cup game against Racing show that Munster are far from the finished product just yet.
Looking ahead to the Leinster game, McMillan said that he is fully aware of the challenge that his side face against Leinster on Saturday.
“We know the quality that Leinster have. It’s an international side running around but our guys will celebrate tonight and then turn our attention on Monday to Leinster.
“I imagine after looking at the game tonight, they [Leinster] would have seen a number of avenues that they can look to attack us with.
“We’ll need to make sure that we do our homework and tidy up the areas where I think we were a little vulnerable tonight, but also look at where we can have a crack at them.”