Consistency, the Holy Grail for most sports teams.
Clayton McMillan is the newest kid on the block to try and find that elusive magic formula with Munster.
Even with many factors outside of their control over the last number of years – injuries, Covid cancellations, managerial changes, their seasons, including the 2023 URC title winning one, always seem to be described as 'rollercoasters'.
The constant turnover of coaches over the last decade has been a destabilising factor referred to by legendary former Munster players Keith Earls and Conor Murray.
Former policeman McMillan’s arrival may signal it’s time to get off the ride and try life on the straight and narrow. Two straight wins, of varying quality, over Scarlets and Cardiff, is a start.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s BTK URC clash with Edinburgh in Cork, the New Zealander was asked what he believed was the key to that consistency.
"Your day-to-day behaviours," he said without hesitation.
"What you see on the weekend is the byproduct of everything we come in and do during the week.
"We put a lot of responsibility on our leaders, including myself, to create a culture where we put standards and behaviours to the forefront of what we do and we get consistency in those and then inevitably results will follow.
"At this level of competition, you're not going to win every game but you want to go down fighting when you don't.
"I guess last week was an example of that, we'd still see that as growth that we weren't at our best and we've shown a way and that, in itself, is positive.
"Even if we want to be playing better."
The head coach has changed two thirds of his starting XV and after being second best in the physical battle last weekend against Cardiff, has challenged the newcomers to put their best foot forward.
Of the sweeping changes, he said: "It's the hardest part of the job when you have to name a side and let good people down, but I think anyone that's in high-performance sport will know that generally, we don't want people getting too comfortable.
"That internal competition brings out the best in each other and, ultimately, those that perform well will get selected.
"So yeah, we're enjoying some good competition within our ranks at the moment and, as I said, these changes, particularly in our backline this week, and the onus is on them to put their best foot forward."
Edwin Edogbo is on the bench after a lengthy injury lay-off, while last season’s player of the year, Tom Farrell (above), comes in for his first start of the season.
"I’m really excited to see Tom go," said McMillan.
"He did well in the first little bit of pre-season. Obviously, picked up every award going recently for his performances last year and so, he's an experienced campaigner.
"He's well-liked in the group. And he offers something just a little bit different.
"He's a taller body and a little bit different to Alex Nankivell and Dan Kelly.
"Those two in particular have shouldered a big load through pre-season, through the first two games, and it's just not conceivable to get the best out of them by rolling them out for big minutes every week.
"So that's a real welcome addition that we get to make a few changes in that space and the onus will be on Seán [O’Brien] and Tom to have an impact and make discussions for us hard moving forward around selection."
Edinburgh had last weekend off when their home tie against Ulster was postponed due to Storm Amy.
The sides met in Virgin Media Park just last February with the visitors coming away with a deserved 34-28 victory.
"That's etched pretty deep in the memory of a lot of the people here," said the 51-year-old Kiwi.
"Obviously, I wasn't here, but you can sense that it was a pivotal point in the season.
"Although the outcome wasn't great that night, I think it was definitely a catalyst for accepting that we weren't where we wanted to be as a team, and had a part in creating a little bit of a run at the back end of the season."
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