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Hannah O'Connor: Munster can deliver one of those European nights

The lineout is a key area for Munster, according to Hannah O'Connor
The lineout is a key area for Munster, according to Hannah O'Connor

It's a big week for Munster Rugby and the benefit of it is they are at home in Thomond Park and they will have that Red Army there to support them in full voice.

The big work-ons for them this week would have had to have been around setpiece time around the lineout. The scrum has been functioning really well for them but as we know their lineout, over the last few weeks, has been hit or miss.

They're losing lineouts at key times, which they can't afford to do, and they're not giving themselves the best opportunity to unleash their potent backs, which they have. They have the speed and the pace out wide and they're just not allowing themselves to ignite there with the faltering lineout.

Their discipline simply has not been good enough. Denis Leamy talked about this at his press conference during the week, as well as Jeremy Loughman, that they're letting off the pressure valve.

They get teams into positions where they're really able to make them pay and then they just release the pressure valve by giving away stupid penalties.

They want to control those pictures for the referee through discipline and not let the referee come into being a factor in the game, but can they do it? Absolutely.

It's Munster in a knockout cup rugby match at home. Over the last few years we've seen Munster being able to show up on these big European nights and I'd say we'll be seeing the same on Saturday night.


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Leinster haven't been firing on all cylinders and have come under a bit of criticism, but regardless of that they've been getting the results and finding a way to win.

We'll see them turn it up a notch again against Bayonne. They're a mediocre side in the Top 14 over in France and it's an opposition that Leinster would be relishing going away to.

It's another chance to put a little bit more flow and consistency into their game.

They've been ticking away really well with some really good players coming through the ranks. The likes of JJ Kenny, who we talked about last week, and Tommy O'Brien, who has also been going really well.

It's another opportunity for these players to put their hands up for an impending Six Nations squad that's just around the corner.

Hannah O'Connor was speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland


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Listen to live commentary of Munster v Castres in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday from 5.30pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

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