Munster scrum half Conor Murray has admitted that his side did not show up against Leinster two weeks ago.
The province arrived at Aviva Stadium with a close to fullstrength squad, while the hosts fielded a second-strong selection, resting all their frontliners ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup final.
A win for Munster would have a secured a home quarterfinal in the United Rugby Championship play-offs, but Johann van Graan’s side were outplayed in the capital, going down 35-25.
“It’s one of the games that stands out. It was very unlike us, it was a game littered with mistakes in terms of turnovers and ultimately losing the physical battle,” Murray admitted yesterday.
“We lost the breakdown and found it very hard to get front-foot ball at times and that made things really difficult to get across the park, so it probably came back to if we were up for it physically and emotionally and mentally – we were asking ourselves those questions.
“‘We had a really good review. It was probably the toughest review of the year. It was Munster-Leinster and we didn’t show up.
“We had to be much more honest with each other in the meeting room. It was important that we reviewed it really well and tried to iron out what went wrong in the prep, lead-up and on game day.
“‘We did it well and we were honest with each other. We’ve played an awful lot of good rugby this year and that game wasn’t like us. Leinster were good, yeah, you can say their second side or whatever. We didn’t approach it like that.
“It was Munster-Leinster and we pretty much didn’t show up. I know we got back in the lead at a certain point but it wasn’t good enough.”
Munster now face a make-or-break URC quarter-final meeting with Ulster in Belfast on Friday night, but the Reds have been boosted by the return of Tadhg Beirne. Ireland and Lions lock Beirne has been out of action since he picked up a thigh injury against Italy during the Six Nations, but is set to make his return Friday.
Munster are also set to have Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Damian de Allende and Simon Zebo available. Alex Kendellen is due to complete the return to play protocols this week after the young flanker suffered a concussion in the Leinster defeat.
Ulster have completed the signing of tighthead prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen on a one-year deal. The 31-year-old New Zealander will join from Wasps in the summer.
Kick off between Ulster and Munster Friday night is at 7:35pm.
