Munster have gone a "bit old school" as they begin life under new head coach Clayton McMillan, according to Denis Leamy.
The province parted ways with former head coach Graham Rowntree in October of 2024 and finished in sixth place in the BKT United Rugby Championship table before losing out to the Sharks after a place-kicking competition in the quarter-finals.
Ahead of Saturday's URC opener away to Scarlets (5.30pm) Leamy was asked about life under new boss McMillan, a former policeman, who joined from the Chiefs.
"The mood is good, everyone is very excited to get going again in the league," defence coach Leamy told RTÉ Sport.
"As a player, you are putting in all the hard work in pre-season and boys have worked very hard.
"We went a little bit old school and there’s been a lot of stuff around boxing and hill runs and swimming and rowing, just to build up a little bit of mental toughness.
"We’ve had some very good rugby sessions, everyone is enjoying the influence of our new coaching team, Clayton, and the way he delivers stuff as well.
"There’s a huge amount of excitement and everyone is really looking forward to getting going."
Asked if Munster fans would notice a difference in style of play, the 43-year-old said: "There will be little subtle changes.
"Yeah, there will. And there's definitely things that we're focusing on, going back to a little bit of…not that we ever really went away, but there's been a big focus on traditional values and being as tough around our set-piece as we can possibly be, bringing that real grit around the contact area.
"And then maybe playing with a little bit more pragmatism at times in our own half and stuff like that.
"Without ever going away from trying to play the game in the right way, and being of an attacking nature.
"People will see subtle little changes in the way we're looking to play."
Meanwhile, Munster forward Tadhg Beirne (above) is in line for a return for the side’s Croke Park clash with Leinster in four weeks’ time.
The 33-year-old Ireland international was voted player of the British and Irish Lions series as they defeated Australia 2-1 in the summer.
The Kildare man will sit out the opening three rounds but is being aimed at the mouthwatering derby against the champions in Dublin 3 on 18 October.
"I believe Tadhg is back around the Leinster game," said Leamy (below), a 2009 Grand Slam winner with Ireland.
"We’ll just monitor how he’s going.
"Obviously, he’s had a very long season and been in an awful lot of very tough games, involved in a hugely successful Lions tour, which takes a toll on the body.
"We’ll see how he’s at week to week.
"To win player of the series and deliver week in week out is what Tadhg can do.
"He’s just a very good player and somebody that, in high-level rugby matches, he has the ability to be a game-changer.
"We’ve seen that for many years and long may it continue."
Meanwhile, the URC has announced it will adopt the global World Rugby trial of the 20-minute red card law for the 2025/26 season.
"If a player commits foul play that reaches the red card threshold but is not deliberate or 'always illegal', they will receive a 20-minute red card. The player is removed from the game and cannot return," said the organisers.
"After 20 minutes of playing time, the team may bring on an available replacement. Two yellow cards to the same player in one match will also equal a 20-minute red card."
By contrast, permanent red cards will still apply where foul play is highly dangerous, intentional, or 'always illegal'.
In these cases, only the referee can make the decision and the player is sent off for the rest of the game and cannot be replaced.
Examples of 20-minute red cards include: a shoulder charge to the head with low danger or indirect contact; a tackle or in a ruck clear-out attempt where a player makes head contact despite a genuine attempt to wrap; high-danger foul play that is not deemed deliberate or always illegal.
Examples of permanent red cards are a shoulder charge to the head with high force and direct contact; highly dangerous clear out directly onto or landing on an opponent's lower limbs at a ruck; punching, kicking, headbutts, verbal abuse or any form of violent conduct or acts of 'thuggery’.
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