skip to main content

Donal Lenihan's URC verdicts as Munster host Connacht

Munster won 30-24 at MacHale Park when they last faced Connacht
Munster won 30-24 at MacHale Park when they last faced Connacht

Munster have to build on beating Leinster now.

That's the challenge.

They had a cause going into that game. When there’s a chip on the shoulder, they always produce.

But that doesn’t sustain long-term performance and they’ve got to repeat that tomorrow night against a Connacht team who have always made life difficult for Munster.

They’ll be playing without their top players in Tadhg Beirne and Jack Crowley, and also Tom Farrell, who has deservedly been called into the Irish squad.

But I think the performance at Croke Park has lifted the whole province. I expect it to add a few more bums on seats in Thomond Park tomorrow night.

They have made seven changes but there is a bit more depth in that Munster squad than we have become used to.

John Hodnett is back in the back row, with Diarmuid Kilgallen, who joined from Connacht last year and had a very good season.

Connacht need to get something out of it. They have had a very unlucky season.

They had a great start with a win over Benetton but the following week, their game against Scarlets was called off at the last minute. You would think they would have won that.

They didn’t perform against Cardiff away and lost by a point against the Bulls last week.

So they are nearly there but without Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finley Bealham, they don’t have the same depth, so it’s going to be difficult for them.

But Connacht have always put it up to Munster in Thomond Park. I expect Munster to win but I think it will be an awful lot tighter than last week.

Leinster have 22 players away with Ireland. They were able to sustain those kind of losses in the past but confidence must be low at the moment.

They have only won one of their four games. They are sitting 12th in the table, behind Munster, Ulster and Connacht. I don’t know if that has ever happened before.

So there is a bit of pressure on Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber. Zebre then, who have always been the minnows of the league, have actually won two out of four, and are four places above Leinster in the table.

So a lot of pressure. They are playing in the Aviva and I don’t think there will be that many there. I expect Leinster to win it but it’s a nervous time for Leo Cullen.

It flew under the radar last week but Ulster had a brilliant win in Durban against the Sharks.

It’s the third week in a row that they are playing South African opposition. They beat the Bulls in Belfast before they left.

The Lions in Johannesburg is a difficult game. You’re playing in Ellis Park at 6,000 feet elevation, but at the moment Ulster confidence is brilliant.

They’re going great at the moment. A brilliant start to the season and I wouldn’t be surprised if they won it.

Donal Lenihan was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland

Follow a live blog on Munster v Connacht in the URC on Saturday from 7.45pm on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra

Read Next