Rugby News

Munster Rugby look to maintain unbeaten record against Stormers in key URC tie

October 19, 2024

AFTER an incredibly difficult challenge against rivals Leinster at a sold-out Croke Park last Saturday, there is little time to rest for Munster.

Next up for Graham Rowntree’s side are their two URC games against the DHL Stormers and the Sharks, which will be made even more difficult due to the amount of injuries suffered by the side throughout the first three rounds of the URC.

The side currently sit in seventh place on the league table. Their opponents for the next two weekends sit below them, but it is widely known how difficult it is to win against South African teams at their home venue and at altitude.

After their long flight to South Africa, Munster will switch their focus to a Round 5 meeting with the DHL Stormers at DHL Stadium in Cape Town this Saturday, 5pm.

Stormers have lost only one of their last nine home games in the competition: 21-27 to Ospreys at DHL Stadium in April. The South African’s have won their last three matches against Irish provinces since today’s opponents Munster beat them in Limerick in November 2023.

Munster are unbeaten in their last nine URC fixtures against South African opponents since their defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg in March 2022 and Munster have won all four previous matches they have played against Stormers.

But this season Munster have lost to Zebre and most recently Leinster.

The concession of four first half tries, including three inside the opening 15 minutes, all but scuppered Munster’s hopes of recording a rare victory over their arch rivals in the URC.

Munster’s prospects were hindered by a combination of factors, including a run of unfortunate injuries to front row forwards during the opening quarter, as well as a faltering line-out and some slack defending.

Following last Saturday night’s defeat Munster Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree pointed to a lack of accuracy as being a key factor in their latest defeat to Leinster.

“I’ve never shied away from poor performances. Tonight for me, there wasn’t a lack of effort, it was accuracy,” Rowntree said.
Rowntree revealed that the squad travelling to South Africa would be bolstered by the return of a number of experienced players from injury. The Munster head coach will hope that the experience of touring as a squad which have a positive impact on their upcoming performances as had happened in recent seasons.

“We’ve got guys coming back as well from injury, the likes of Shane Daly, Billy Burns will be on the trip.

“It’s been a productive area for us the last couple of seasons has Cape Town, South Africa, and we predominantly stay in Cape Town, there’s a hotel there we use and we’ll be flying up to Durban the night before the game and we’ll stay in Cape Town as long as we can.

“It’s proven and we know the facilities, we get away as players and as coaches and we get on with it. The Stormers are traveling as well. We’ve got huge games now against two South African teams and I’m a strong believer that if you’re going to advance in this competition, what you do in South Africa is huge in terms of what you can acquire, points-wise.”

After this Saturday afternoon’s game Munster will face their second game on their South African tour against Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday, October 26, 3pm.

The pressure for Rowntree’s squad does not stop once they return home from South Africa with another sold-out game on November 2 in Thomond Park against the All Blacks XV.

This will be a break from the URC action for Munster, but a huge game in Limerick will put more pressure on players to play well.

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