Thomond Park was rocking like the good old days last Saturday night, the kind of big European atmosphere and big European win that the province haven't had enough of in recent years.
Their earlier home win against Stade Francais in the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 was an emphatic bonus-point victory, but with the French side throwing in the towel during the second half, it was a more run of the mill success compared to the gutsy mud-wrestle against Sarries.
The challenge facing Ian Costello’s side this afternoon in Northampton is about ensuring they get at least one more big home outing in this competition.
They travel to the Premiership champions with their place in the Round of 16 not yet guaranteed, although it would take a bizarre set of results to deny them that. They may even be qualified before they kick off against the Saints, depending on what happens between the Bulls and Stade in Pretoria.
The two-time champions may no longer be in that top bracket of favourites to win the title, but they are definitely capable of reaching the latter stages, something they haven’t done since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
After reaching the semi-final in 2019, the province missed out on the knockouts in 2020, falling short in what was admittedly a notoriously difficult pool with Racing 92, Saracens and Ospreys.
In the last four seasons, they have reached the quarter-final once and lost three times in the Round of 16, the sort of return that just isn't good enough for a team of Munster’s European pedigree.
In the last two seasons in particular, missing out on a home last 16 has cost them dearly, shipping 50 points to the Sharks in Durban in 2022/23, before losing away to the Northampton Saints last year.
There was no shame in last season’s Round of 16 defeat Northampton, who they take on at Frankin’s Gardens today, but in reality, they should never have left themselves with an away knockout to begin with, having thrown away three good leads against Bayonne, Exeter and the Saints themselves during that pool stage.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of a good seeding, and thus home advantage in the Champions Cup knockouts. Of the 28 games that have been played in the Round of 16, quarter-final and semi-finals in the last two seasons, 26 have been won by the home side.
Their last home knockout game in this tournament wasn't even a true home game, with the 2022 quarter-final against Toulouse moved to Aviva Stadium because of the clash with Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Thomond Park. Although they brought more than 40,000 supporters to Dublin and traded blows with Toulouse in one of the greatest games this competition has ever seen, it was hard to shake the feeling that being in Limerick may have tipped the scales on another day.
Three weeks earlier, that Thomond edge proved too much for the Exeter Chiefs to handle, Munster overcoming the Premiership side 26-10 to overturn a five-point aggregate deficit. Coming up on three years ago, that’s still their most recent Champions Cup knockout game on home soil.
"It would be class. It’s definitely a motivating factor," Conor Murray remarked on the importance of securing home advantage in the next round.
"It doesn't really need to be said. It’s probably been mentioned once or twice.
"All the players and everyone involved knows a home knockout game is completely different. It’s really special.
"If you’re lucky enough to go away to [Ireland] camp and you’ve secured a home knockout game then while you’re away you look forward to getting back to your province and a big day like that in your home stadium."
Those thoughts were echoed by interim head coach Ian Costello, who admits his side have to go to Northampton looking to secure as high a seed as they can, rather than being content with simply qualifying.
"We know what’s at stake, the carrot if we win, we find ourselves in April back in Thomond Park again in front a crowd like we had on Saturday night, and everyone wants that, everyone craves it.
"It was incredible on Saturday night, the lift that it gave us, and we just want more of it," Costello said.
The financial element is arguably just as important as the competitive advantage. One more home game, and particularly a home game that would come close to a sell-out, is worth several hundred thousand euro, money which the province are badly in need of.
In a perfect world, a win this weekend could see Munster host at Thomond Park in both the last 16 and quarter-final if they get there, although that would require Saracens to underwhelm against Castres on Sunday.
A win at Franklin’s Gardens is in their control though. Whatever comes of it is a bonus.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Leinster v Bath (kick-off 5.30pm, Saturday) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player or follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
