MUNSTER keep winning, and their recent success at Ospreys was achieved thanks to the strength of their defence.
It was a lesson on discipline when under pressure and the forwards’ coaching team may well be satisfied.
A bonus-point victory was achieved early in the second- half gave them the comfort of enjoying the latter phases and puts them in second place in the URC table.
Since the ‘Disaster of Bath’, Munster have really excelled and even without their first-choice starters, winning bonus points have been the order of the day when this team are in form.
The return of both Mike Haley and Calvin Nash has now given the selectors a wider choice in the backline and there is now a keener battle for starting places.
Jack O’Donoghue has taken over the captaincy well and with tries from Shane Daly, Lee Barron, Haley and Jack Crowley, defeat in Wales was never in doubt.
It was sad to hear that the Ospreys club may be in jeopardy.
They have lost two of their star players in recent weeks and when you hear a commentator telling us that “the club may cease to exist after 25 years” and “there is no smoke without fire”, it is worrying.
Traditionally Munster fixtures with Leinster have been special, and this writer has been lucky enough to enjoy such Christmas treats for many, many years.
This Saturday’s clash at Thomond Park (kick-off, 7.45pm) is set up to be a real cracker with both teams eager for URC points, not to mention the ‘Bragging Rights’.
There is a lot at stake in this pairing, it is a sell-out and there is no doubt that they will be treated to a thriller.
Munster will be confident after recent performances but still expect head coach Clayton McMillan to make a few changes.