Elise O'Byrne White says Leinster can harness the hurt from last season’s loss to Munster to get them over the line this afternoon when the teams meet in the final of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
While the last tournament was decided on a straight league format, this season will conclude with a 'Finals Day' in Musgrave Park, with Ulster and Connacht meeting in the third-fourth place play-off (2pm) and Munster and Leinster meeting in the decider (4.45pm).
Tania Rosser’s Dublin-based side overcame a shock opening-round loss to Connacht to earn a spot in the final thanks to a big win over Ulster and last weekend’s 26-19 success over Munster, in what was the defending champions’ first loss in ten outings.
One of their victories in that run came in round two last January when they ran out 26-17 winners over Leinster.
It’s that reverse that wing O’Byrne White (below), capped by Ireland in 2016, says will motivate her side.
"I think we all felt that game, we were particularly disappointed in how we performed ourselves," said the 32-year-old, a veterinarian who also features in the RTÉ series The Shelter: Animal SOS.
"We didn’t show up physically and our heads just weren’t in the game and that was the most disappointing part as a group, we feel we could have done so much better.
"So we’ve taken that, definitely still feel it and I think that’s been used to sharpen our focus this season.
"We’re all aware of what we left behind last [January] and I think we’re using that this week. While we’re still focusing on ourselves and our own performance that is still a good driving factor.
"I’m expecting a really big game. We got the win at the weekend but there is still a lot of work to be done.
"Our expectation as a group is that we are going to step it up. We have improvements to make, we are not at our best yet. We’re going to relish the physicality of that game and we are ready to go again.
"It’s a big ask, playing Munster at home in Musgrave Park. They have been reigning champions the last two years, they haven’t lost there so we have to match that energy.
"That’s an exciting challenge for all of us in the squad and I think we have the potential to do it, we just need to focus on ourselves and get ourselves right and bring it all this weekend."
Meanwhile, Munster scrum-half Muirne Wall (above, left) says they can’t afford to be so wasteful if they want to turn last week’s result around.
She said: "We know that we didn’t take our chances so we are going to work really hard on improving on the small details, get connected more and work better in our attack, and finish off those opportunities."
Rosser has made just one change to the team that won last weekend with Ireland out-half Dannah O’Brien stepping up from the bench, while Munster boss Niamh Briggs has made five alterations.
Nicole Cronin makes her first start of the campaign at out-half as full-back Eimear Considine and Aoife Doyle come into the back three, while lock Clodagh O'Halloran and back-row forward Chloe Pearse both start.
Having come off the bench last week for her first appearance since a long-term knee injury, Cronin said: "It's been an incredibly difficult time with injury, probably the last 12 months really. In and out and I suppose that's part and parcel of the game.
"But to get the 30-odd minutes under my belt last weekend was huge.
A disappointing result but hopefully it puts me in a better position to help the girls moving forward."
Munster: Eimear Considine; Aoife Doyle, Alana McInerney, Stephanie Nunan, Stephanie Carroll; Nicole Cronin, Muirne Wall; Róisín Ormond, Ciara Farrell, Fiona Reidy; Dorothy Wall (capt), Clodagh O'Halloran; Chloe Pearse, Maeve Óg O'Leary, Derbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC)
Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Eilís Cahill, Claire Bennett, Brianna Heylmann, Jane Clohessy, Kate Flannery, Ellen Boylan, Aoife Corey
Leinster: Natasja Behan; Aimee Clarke, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey, Anna Doyle; Dannah O'Brien, Katie Whelan; Linda Djougang, Lisa Callan, Christy Haney; Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri; Aoife Wafer, Molly Boyne, Hannah O’Connor (capt)
Replacements: Caoimhe Molloy, Aoife Moore, Sarah Delaney, Katelynn Doran, Sene Taiti-Fanene, Ailsa Hughes, Nikki Caughey, Elise O Byrne-White
Connacht: Méabh Deely; Ava Ryder, Clara Barrett, Shannon Touhey, Laoise McGonagle; Nicole Fowley (capt), Olivia Haverty; Grainne O'Loughlin, Stacy Hanley, Niamh O'Grady; Sonia McDermott, Eva McCormack; Orla Fenton, Karly Tierney, Kayla Waldron
Replacements: Lily Brady, Niamh Corless, Dearbhla Canty, Mollie Starr, Faith Oviawe, Poppy Garvey, Orla Dixon, Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Ulster: Ella Durkan; Maeve Liston, Peita McAlister, Kelly McCormill, Niamh Marley; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Ava Fannin, Beth Cregan (capt), Aishling O'Connell; Keelin Brady, Taryn Schutzler; India Daley, Maebh Clenaghan, Brittany Hogan
Replacements: Sarah Roberts, Megan Simpson, Megan Brodie, Stacey Sloan, Brenda Barr, Laura Cairns, Toni Macartney, Megan Edwards
