Munster
have rarely entered their customary early-season rendezvous with Leinster at such a low ebb. About the only consolation is that their hosts at the Aviva this Saturday have also lost twice and are merely a point above them in fifth place, but a key difference of course is that Munster have lost two of three home games at their Thomond Park lair.
Munster have also lost on their last six visits to the capital against Leinster, including four Pro12 defeats in succession at the Aviva. Hence, after defeats at home to Edinburgh and the Ospreys compounded end-of-season defeats at their Limerick fortress to Glasgow and an under-strength Ulster, Conor Murray admits that few people will be giving them much chance at the Aviva.
“It’s probably right because we haven’t been playing well enough,” he conceded after Saturday night’s defeat, while maintaining that their self-belief remains intact.
“There is a lot of talent here, a lot of good players, it’s just about clicking and getting a few things right. They’re fine margins. We can look back at the game and pick three or four areas that we need to improve on.”
Retaining the ball
“We’re creating the opportunities, we’re getting the line breaks. . . we’re getting in position, but retaining the ball is another area we need to work on and convert those chances. It’s within the squad. Obviously people are going to write us off. We haven’t given them any reason to back us. It’s going to be a long, frustrating week of training, but no better place to get it right than up in the Aviva.”
Indeed, playing away from Thomond Park, in front of a huge and mostly hostile crowd and as underdogs, may actually be a blessing. “There’s probably no problem getting up for this game next weekend,” agreed Murray.
“It’s Leinster away and it will be a huge crowd, 40,000-plus. That is a given but it’s the games where there are half-full stadiums that we need to not worry about the crowd, just worry about our own performance.”
“It’s great when it’s full but we’re not giving them enough to come and support.”
First outing as captain
Murray’s importance to the Munster set-up grows each season, so the latest defeat was not how he wanted to mark his first outing as captain. Nonetheless, it is an honour he’d love to fulfil again.
“It is my home club and it is a huge honour. It seemed to be a bigger game for me than anyone else and it put a bit more pressure on myself. But I loved it, it is a huge honour to be asked to do it and anytime I am asked to do it I will be more than happy to do it.”
Felix Jones, who captained Munster for their previous two outings and is back in training this week, may take over again but either way, Murray maintained, "It is probably the perfect game to sort things and get things right.
“It is a huge challenge – like I said, it is going to be a long week but it is a week we have got to prepare really well and really look to fix the things that we are constantly making mistakes with. To go up there is a huge ask, I have full faith in the squad.”
