Bernard Jackman believes Munster will go on and secure their place in next week's BKT United Rugby Championship final, but has warned they'll have their work cut out dealing with a multi-faceted Glasgow Warriors attack this Saturday (6pm).
The reigning champions came through the regular season in the URC with the best defensive record in the league, while they were miserly in their quarter-final win over the Ospreys last week, conceding just seven points, and holding the Welsh side scoreless in the final 76 minutes.
Saturday's opponents Glasgow will pose a far greater attacking threat though, with Franco Smith's side boasting a large number of Scotland internationals, including backs Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu and Kyle Steyn, and forwards Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey.
"They probably have the most elaborate attacking shape of any team [in the URC]," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
"I really like Munster's attack, but I think Glasgow's is slightly different, more layered. They're very happy to go really deep to try and get you on the edge.
"Tuipulotu is massive for them, they all understand it, [former Connacht assistant] Nigel Carolan has come in there and added his style to it, but Franco Smith has come in as head coach and given them licence to play."
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The Scottish side have been known to throw the ball around and play a fast, attacking brand of rugby, but crucially they know how to handle themselves up front.
Hooker Johnny Matthews finished the URC season as top try-scorer, crossing the whitewash 14 times, most of which came off dominant mauls, while in their previous meeting with Munster in December, they scored five tries alone off driving mauls.
"They are a dangerous side," added the former Ireland hooker.
"For a team who are so elaborate in attack one of their biggest weapons is their maul.
"When you look at the stats, you go, 'oh, they're a forwards-based team', but they only really are when they kick to the corner, everything else is fast, slick movement, good lines of running, good ball transfer, but when they get you in the corner, they're lethal.
"Munster, discipline all week, not giving them those opportunities. Part of that is territory. They may use [Jack] Crowley and [Craig] Casey and even [Simon] Zebo just to make sure that if they do concede penalties, they're far enough away, rather than be five yards out."
Former Munster wing Johne Murphy joined Jackman on the podcast, and the Naas head coach believes Munster's kicking game will be vital in controlling the areas of the pitch the game is played in.
"They really need to be on that [maul], and I do think that the right and left-footed options, keeping them down the pitch [will be important], making sure that if they're conceding penalties, it's the far side," he said.
"If they chase breakdowns, they have to manage it really well, their kick strategy has to be very important, Zebo's left foot is another layer to his game that he can bring in when he's put in the right positions. Crowley is very important to that.
"It's going to be interesting to see what they come up with from a defensive perspective. Not allowing them entries [to the 22] is going to be very important, and easy entries at that."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch the URC semi-final, Bulls v Leinster, on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player,
Listen to live commentary of Bulls v Leinster, and Munster v Glasgow Warriors on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, and follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
