Munster v Sharks: Reds must shut out the Shark Tank vibes to keep season alive
Munster must be all business and forget the party going on around them in the Shark Tank.
That's the message from Reds interim boss Ian Costello, who has named an unchanged side for the third game in a row as the province take on the Springboks-laden Sharks in Durban (5.30pm Irish time).
'There's a bit of a party atmosphere is the best way to describe it," he said of what Munster can expect at high altitude in Kings Park. "They're saying it's going to be a sell-out, they'll have people jumping into pools, they have lots of music. It's cool, there's a really good vibe and a really good energy there and I'm sure that fuels the home team.
"So we need to channel that and use it in our own way, but there's a lot of distractions there, a lot of noise, a lot of things that can take you off task.
"A lot of the chat will be making sure that we're on task, that we're calm and composed all the time - that maybe we don't buy into the atmosphere there.'
Jack Crowley has been passed fit after suffering a rib injury in the vital final regular season victory over Benetton, while Rory Scannell is on the bench and primed for his 200th appearance for the province.
The Reds' loss to the Sharks at the same venue ended Graham Rowntree's reign but Munster have produced good results in South Africa.
"I wouldn't say there's a secret sauce but there are always elements that you tweak and you dial up or down for games like this," Costello said.
"We certainly have a formula that we might add in or take out for any particular game and we have some that are specific to playing in South Africa based on conditions - whether it's altitude, whether it's hot, whether it's greasy and against specific teams like the Sharks.
'We have had a good record here and the last couple of weeks have been really good for us to deliver under pressure. It's no different this week, we need to deliver under pressure."
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
30 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Bernard Jackman: Connacht rugby 'invigorated' by Stuart Lancaster news
Bernard Jackman believes Stuart Lancaster is an "amazing" appointment for Connacht Rugby, after what had been a couple of "rudderless" seasons for the western province. The former Leinster senior coach was recently confirmed as Connacht's new boss on a two-year deal, replacing Pete Wilkins, who stepped down towards the end of this season. Lancaster, who also spent four years as head coach of England, most recently spent a season and a half as head coach of Racing 92, although he departed the club in February after struggling in Paris. It was at Leinster where Lancaster flourished, joining as senior coach in 2016 and helping the province to a Champions Cup title in 2018, as well as four Pro14 titles before leaving in 2023. And Jackman believes it's a major coup for the western province. "I spoke to some Connacht players and staff last night and they're invigorated by it," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast. "It's been a tough season at Connacht and obviously they ended up finishing the season and a large part of the season with an interim coach. "This has really given everybody a lot of hope and now they're going to go into a new stadium, they have a new training facility and clarity around who their head coach is. "You have a head coach who has a very, very strong reputation in Ireland. He understands the Irish system well, the Irish mentality. "He's looking to rebuild his career again, kind of like he did with Leinster. "He's very ambitious and hardworking so he'll want to show with Connacht - with less resources than he had at Racing 92 - what he can do. "Connacht have been quite rudderless for the past couple of seasons, and he will get more out of them for sure." Given the Englishman's reputation in the game, Jackman also believes the appointment could give Connacht a big boost when it comes to recruiting players next season. "I actually think that Stuart Lancaster, in a year's time, will be able to attract players from Leinster, players who have worked with him before," said the former Ireland hooker. "It now makes going to Connacht more attractive, because of his proven track record in developing players. "That's another advantage for Connacht fans, that their recruitment will be easier because they have a better training facility, a better stadium, plus someone like Stuart Lancaster. "Everyone who has worked with him says he made them a better player. That's impressive." While Lancaster had been in the market for a new job, and had recently gone on record detailing how he would like to coach in Ireland again some day, Connacht hadn't been seen as a potential landing spot for the 55-year-old, given their poor season in 2024/25. And while Jackman believes Lancaster could have waited for more lucrative and high-profile gigs, his decision to move to Galway speaks volumes for his confidence in the potential of rugby in the west of Ireland. He said: "Did he have other options? He's been on the record that he was very close to the Australian job. That's a fact. "Only last Friday I got a call from someone in Wales checking references and looking for more info on him. He was on the shortlist for the Welsh job, which hasn't been given out yet. "I think if he sat tight, he could have got a more high-profile job, but I think he sees a real opportunity here. He loved his time in Ireland and so did his partner. "Stuart Lancaster has probably had the biggest impact on the domestic game, in terms of coaching, being a mentor to schools' coaches in Leinster. "He's had more of an impact in his time here than a lot of homegrown or native Irish. "He's the kind of fella who does really buy into it, and really understand what's going on. "I think it won't be just on the field for Connacht. Other coaches in the domestic game there will benefit from his willingness to give up his time. "He's unbelievably generous with his time and I know a lot of people in Leinster really missed him when he left because there wasn't anyone to step into his void with the same level of dedication he had. "I have no doubt if he had decided to sit tight, a bigger job on paper would have come up. It's just he sees something here that he can improve."
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish record transfer fees adjusted for inflation and where Kelleher move ranks
Brentford's decision to cough up an initial £12.5m to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool has parachuted the goalkeeper into 10th place in the list of all-time Irish record transfer fees. The Corkman cost just £500,000 more than Southampton paid Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu, his rival for the number one jersey at international level. But there are plenty of Ireland internationals - both current and former - ahead of Kelleher on the list of all-time fees. Had Liverpool looked for almost double their initial asking price, he would have beaten current number one - and new clubmate - Nathan Collins who was sold by Wolves to Brentford for £23m in July 2023. Collins holds down first and second place, thanks to the £20.5m Wolves splurged to take him from Burnley just 12 months earlier. Next up is Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, followed by current defender Jake O'Brien. Of course, Kelleher could eventually leap to fourth in the list if he meets all the clauses that would ultimately net Liverpool a cool £18m. While Collins sits in top spot - and second place - if you adjust the figures for inflation, he isn't the most expensive Irishman. Running the top-15 fees paid out through the Bank of England's Inflation Calculator, Damien Duff is, by right, the most expensive Irishman in the history of the game. He cost Chelsea £17m when he signed from Blackburn in July 2023. Incredibly, that equates to £31m in today's money - and it squeaks him ahead of his old teammate Robbie Keane. Keane's transfer from Tottenham to Liverpool in July 2008 came in at £19m - or £30.9m with inflation figures going through the roof right now. £31m (with inflation): Damien Duff Blackburn to Chelsea (July 2003, original fee £17m) £30.9m: Robbie Keane - Tottenham to Liverpool (July 2008, £19m) £24.6m: Robbie Keane - Coventry to Inter Milan (July 2000, £13m) £23.9m: Nathan Collins - Wolves to Brentford (July 2023, £23m) £23.2m: Nathan Collins - Burnley to Wolves (July 2022, £20.5m) £19.1m: Robbie Keane - Liverpool to Tottenham (February 2009, £12m) £19m: Matt Doherty - Wolves to Tottenham (August 2020, £15m) £18.9m: James McCarthy - Wigan to Everton (September 2013, £13.5m) £17.3m: Robbie Brady - Norwich to Burnley (January 2017, £13m) £16.9m: Jake O'Brien - Lyon to Everton (July 2024, £16.4m) £16.5m: Shane Long - Hull to Southampton (August 2014, £12m) £14.6m: Aiden McGeady - Celtic to Spartak Moscow (August 2010, £9.5m) £14.4m: Jeff Hendrick - Derby to Burnley (August 2016, £10.5m) £13.6m: Gavin Bazunu - Manchester City to Southampton (June 2022, £12m) £12.5m: CAOIMHIN KELLEHER - Liverpool to Brentford (June 2025)
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Funeral details for young Clare woman who died during Edinburgh Half Marathon announced
Olivia will repose at her home (V95 K2TA) on Friday, June 6, from 4.00pm until 8.00pm, with the funeral service the following day. The 25-year-old's funeral will be held in her hometown of Ennis, County Clare, in the town's cathedral. The funeral mass will take place from 11am, with the option of watching a live stream online also available. Funeral parking will be available at Olivia's former secondary school, Rice College, on New Road, Ennis, and at the Clare County Council carpark, also on New Road, Ennis, from 5.00pm until 8.00pm. Olivia, described as a 'bright and beautiful spirit', passed away after collapsing during the Edinburgh Half Marathon on May 25. The 25-year-old studied at Queen Margaret University in the Scottish capital before qualifying as a nurse. She was working in the vascular ward of the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh before her untimely passing. Tributes have been shared from Irish and Scottish family and friends alike across social media and through Gardaí have no traffic advisories in place for Ennis town as of yet.
