'We're reared on cup rugby': Jeopardy suits Munster says Denis Leamy

Irish Examiner

13-05-2025

Denis Leamy is confident his players can continue being cup rugby mentality monsters when Munster bid to reach the URC play-offs in their final game of the regular season at home to Benetton in Cork this Friday night.
The 2023 champions came up with a big performance when it mattered last Friday at Thomond Park when they delivered a bonus-point victory over derby rivals Ulster to keep their season alive but the job is only half done. To reach the knockout rounds and qualify for next season's Champions Cup, Munster must win again to be certain or face an anxious wait across the rest of the weekend in the hope they are not the only team to have fluffed their lines.
The 38-20 win over Ulster gives confidence that Munster can hang on their top-eight status and the motivating drivers of providing a winning end on home soil for departing players remains in place this week as Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer prepare for a last hurrah at Virgin Media Park. Momentum has been regained after ending a three-game losing run in emphatic fashion with six tries scored last weekend and defence coach Leamy is encouraged that Munster's DNA is alive and kicking in his players.
'We've spoken big picture stuff in terms of possibly playing for the next couple of weeks, but also understanding that there's no tomorrow if Friday night doesn't go well,' Leamy said on Monday after the squad's return to the training field.
"It's a cup game, it carries that kind of jeopardy. Luckily, we're reared on cup rugby in this province. From schoolboys up, it's part of our tradition, what we're used to.
"So, we embrace that. It's just about executing the plan on the day."
Benetton will start the weekend one place above their hosts in seventh place but on equal points with both Munster and ninth-placed Cardiff. All of those, and Edinburgh only two points behind them, are fighting for a place in the quarter-finals beyond Round 18 but Leamy has seen the positive effects of his province switching to that knockout rugby mentality.
"It's certainly a challenge. It's definitely the fact that we're still alive, that our own destiny is in our own hands... that's a really important thing.
"We had a very good week, as well, it's important to say that.
"We just pointed out a few things that we really wanted to go after in all aspects of the game.
"It was good to see that with a big dollop of work-rate and want, we had a good performance on Friday and it was good enough to beat a good Ulster team.
"It was a good performance, it wasn't perfect but we've spoken about how we can improve and what we're facing this weekend against Benetton, their multiple threats and a very exciting backline, a very strong set-piece in terms of scrum and lineout, maul.
"So, it's how we deal with that in terms of carrying that forward and impose our game on it.
"I back our lads all the time, we've a lot experience. We've got players who have been Lions, players who have played multiple times for Ireland, players who, two years ago, won a URC.
"We back ourselves, we back the quality within the group. It's a great challenge, it's one we fully embrace."
That Monday's squad update issued by Munster was as straightforward as it has been all season offers more grounds for optimism to supporters, who rushed to buy tickets for Cork after the final whistle in Limerick last Friday and turned the Virgin Media Park game into an 8,800 sell-out.
Hooker Diarmuid Barron and tighthead prop Oli Jager missed the Ulster game and their respective shoulder and head injuries will also keep them out this Friday, though those players that did return last weekend - Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, and Josh Wycherley in addition to Archer, Murray and O'Mahony – all came through that game without issue, as did utility back Liam Coombes in last week's Munster A game against Connacht Eagles.
Munster have also been boosted by a return to training for power forward Edwin Edogbo following 17 months out with an Achilles tendon injury.
'It's been such a tough time for Edwin,' Leamy said of the 22-year-old lock. 'The last game he played was against Leinster two Christmases ago. And he's been through the ringer… he's had a very difficult time.
'It wasn't his first time having that injury so to have to go through it again, it's so difficult for players to be out that long and to go through the day-to-day, just the rigmarole of coming in when you don't have that carrot at the end of the week where you're playing.
'It's so hard on lads like that, but I think Edwin has applied himself really well. He was on the pitch today with us and did a lot of the session, and he looked good.'
Munster's official line was the Cobh Pirates clubman's availability for selection to face Benetton would be determined as the week progressed but Leamy offered a different assessment.
'The hope is to get him minutes over the next couple of weeks, that'll be in an A game first and foremost, not against Benetton.
'There's an A game and the plan is to get him some minutes in that. That's very pleasing. He's still got a little bit to go with the nature of those injuries it's not simple, but everyone's wishing Edwin the best of luck and he's something different in fairness, he's a really, really good player, so hopefully we can get him back to where he was.'