AFTER a dream start to his appointment as head coach with Munster (five wins on the bounce), the role is now turning into a nightmare. But don’t blame the New Zealander, who was filled with genuine disappointment following the weekend loss at Exeter to exit the Challenge Cup at the Round of 16 stage.
To their credit, Munster fought very hard in the second half, after trailing 31-nil at the break, and there were times when a hint of a dramatic comeback was on the cards.
Munster are now left with interest in the URC, with a modest chance of reaching the last eight.
In the run-in, there are no easy games: Benetton (a), Ulster (h), Connacht (a) and Lions (h).
It’s going to be a tight call for Munster to reach the knockout phase.
As documented, redundancies are on the cards in the province.
Here’s the assessment of former club great and RTÉ analyst Donal Lenihan:
“Munster are now under pressure. They’re the only Irish province of the four who aren’t involved in either Challenge or Champions Cup, so the challenge for them now – and there are question marks – is, will they make the top eight in the URC? If they don’t they’re out of the Champions Cup next year.
“The bottom line with professional sport no matter what it is, is that without money and without a proper financial structure, unfortunately you’re not going to be successful. One leads to the other.”
Meanwhile, Elvion Water has been confirmed as an official hydration partner with Munster.
“Partnering with Munster is a proud moment for us. Munster Rugby represents heritage, ambition, and a strong connection with its community – values that closely align with our own. We look forward to supporting the organisation and building a meaningful long-term partnership,” commented Mariena Cantwell, business development manager with the new sponsor.