Cork fans are Ireland's best as Leamy predicts rocking atmosphere for URC finale
Denis Leamy predicts Musgrave Park will be rocking on Friday night as Munster chase the victory that sets in stone their place in the URC play-offs - and in next season's Champions Cup.
Currently occupying the eighth and final spot for the play-offs, the Reds know that a victory against Benetton in their final regular season fixture will secure a place in the quarter-finals and a place at European club rugby's top table again.
However a draw or a defeat will leave the province sweating, with the resurgent Scarlets gunning to overtake by beating the Sharks in Durban the following day.
After the emotional scenes in Limerick generated by Peter O'Mahony's try in the vital win over Ulster and the Thomond Park farewell for Reds greats Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and O'Mahony, Leamy expects the Cork crowd to serve up something special this week.
'I think it's very important," said the former Reds star turned defence coach for the team. "I think the bond between the supporters and the players and Munster is really important, and that I hope will never change. The atmosphere on Friday night was really good and the supporters really got behind the team in crucial moments.
'The send off for Peter and Archie and Conor and these guys, that's really important and a great chance for the supporters to show what they think of the boys and what they think of the team. It's just a great chance to bring people together and we value our support so much.
"There will be that little bit of emotion around the fact that the boys are retiring to Cork for their final game. That will be there but we've a big job of work to do. We're playing a very good team and it's fair to say it's a Cup final, or a Cup game.
"We've spoken about how we want to implement our game plan, their threats, they have many, a very good backline, good set-piece, maul, scrum. So look, it's going to be a real challenge, a tough affair and there's an awful lot on the line but it's a great challenge and one we're genuinely looking forward to.
"Cork will be exceptional. The Cork sports people - as a county, the best in Ireland. Musgrave will be rocking. It will feel like 16,000, it will feel unbelievable and I know that the Cork supporters will give us everything on Friday night.'
Leamy expects the same from the players, who he insists are well versed in terms of big occasions of this nature. It's not quite do or die but it's do or nearly die for the province. "Now, the pressure of the fixture, we're very lucky that the majority of our players grew up playing Cup rugby," he said.
"It's a Cup match and that's something that we're well versed in and we've a long history in. So, we embrace that and we embrace the challenge and look forward to it."
Echoing the post-match words of interim head coach Ian Costello that it is only half-time in Munster's mission, Leamy is pleased that the players have got the week off to a good start with the review process and first training day.
"It's about delivering and putting our best foot forward," he stated. "We fully believe in our players and we've got players who have played at the very highest level and have won a URC only a couple of seasons before. So these boys have been in tough places and we back them all the way.
"It's very clear cut, you win the game and that probably takes care of the vast majority of what we need to do, so that will be the thing. Just try and go out and, as difficult as it will be, put in place a performance that can win the game.
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