Munster were last night beaten by Ulster in Belfast by 28-3. It was Ulster’s first win over Munster since 2024 after Munster did the double over them last season.
Ulster under Richie Murphy and Mark Sexton have kicked on and are playing some good flowing rugby but at times they do get caught between two stools and the results on those days has suggested that Ulster are going in the right direction but are still a work in progress. They are going well in both the league and in the Challenge Cup.
The resigning of Nathan Doak was a key signing as he has defiantly made strides forward this year and was capped by Ireland A back in November vs Spain suggesting he isn’t too far away from the main Irish squad.
Bryn Ward in particular showed his raw power and pace last night. He was key on occasion to keep Ulster on the front foot, he is of course is the son of Andy Ward who played for Ulster and Ireland in the late 90s and early 2000s and was also part of Ulster’s run to European glory in 1999 in Dublin when they beat Colomiers 21-6.
Munster for their part had no answer to Ulster power, precision and accuracy in attack in particular in the second half when they took the game away from Munster completely. Munster have lost both interpros over the Christmas and New Year Period and have 8 days to circle the wagons before going to face Toulon in the Champions Cup.
Since the Argentina game at the beginning of November, Munster have lost momentum and ground in both the league and in Europe. It started oh so well for Clayton Mc Millian winning his first 5 leagues games and then the slip started with Stormers at home giving up a 21-6 half time lead in Limerick and not kicking on.
The loss at Bath in the first round of the Champions Cup certainly exposed Munster’s deficiency’s up front in the front 5 in particular. They have some but not all the components to compete at the top end in Europe.
It will be a long second half of the season if Munster can’t stop the slide and the challenges don’t get smaller, only bigger and steeper now. The struggles at scrum time continue and were again exposed last night time and again.
Munster could potentially be without and John Hodnett and Alex Nankivell who both went off with knocks last night for the trip to Toulon next Sunday 1pm kick off. Munster have been in this position far too often over recent seasons for their own liking and will again have to go to the well in search of a big season defining performance.
The year is in danger of sliding into the “what could have been column” but the one thing Munster have is time and Clayton Mc Millian will earn his money over the next while.
He and his coaches will need to find solutions both in attack as well as defence because Munster have conceded far too many points in certain games, Denis Leamy has been here before and managed to find a few solutions and they are in the similar spot now so time again for Leamy and co to come up with long term lasting answers.
The Munster motto is “ Stand Up and Fight” well it’s time for the players to do just that and help turn the season around…..