Fresh from their statement victory over defending champions Leinster, Munster have quickly turned their attention to another interprovincial derby on Saturday.

Clayton McMillan’s side host Connacht, who have lost two of their three games, at Thomond Park (7.45pm) looking to make it five wins in a row at the start of their campaign.

Consistency has long been an issue for the 2023 URC champions but they stand on the verge of a flawless opening block if they can continue a three-match winning run, going back to January 2024, against the Westerners.

“It’s really important that we are mentally ready, physically ready for this challenge,” assistant coach Mike Prendergast told RTÉ Sport.

“As a coaching staff it’s a very important week in how we set the lads up.

“We have to have them ready for the challenge because, look, when you win a game like that [against Leinster] the next thing that is spoken about is, ‘can you back it up?’

“We’ve got to get the players in the best position to be at that pitch on Saturday.

“It’s really important we get this week right.”

Much of Munster’s 31-14 win was due to a superb defensive performance but they struck for four tries off just 35% possession and 31% territory.

Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell and Ethan Coughlan scored in the opening half, while Munster were awarded a penalty try when Farrell (below) was illegally denied in the second half.

18 October 2025; Tom Farrell of Munster is tackled by Scott Penny, left, and Ciarán Frawley of Leinster which resulted in a penalty try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Attack coach Prendergast was pleased at how they executed their strikes.

“We probably didn’t have loads of sets but that was the game plan we’d set up in terms of how we wanted to exploit Leinster,” said the former Racing 92 coach.

“We knew what we were coming up against in terms of their defence.

“They bring a lot of linespeed but when you do get in behind them they scramble very well.

“It was something we were better at at the weekend, we managed to take the opportunities when they arose.

“Whether that was getting in behind them through our running game or our short-kicking game. Up front they gave us the platform.

“Jack [Crowley’s] accuracy in his short kicking got us in behind and we managed to finish off.

“Coming down the final furlong we didn’t try to force things.”

The injury fallout from the games over the weekend saw centre Farrell called into the Ireland squad that faces New Zealand in for Chicago on Saturday week.

18 October 2025; Tom Farrell of Munster celebrates after scoring his side's second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Tom Farrell celebrates after scoring Munster’s second try

Munster’s player of the season last year, the uncapped 32-year-old Dubliner has continued his good form.

“I always fancied Tom as a player,” said Prendergast.

“I suppose it’s his skill-set, it’s the unknown a bit about him as well.

“It sounds very simple, and sometimes it is that simplicity.

“He’s a player that carries the ball in two hands, so you actually don’t know what he’s going to do, whether he’s going to pass, whether he’s going to carry, and he manages to get his nose through, makes a lot of line breaks.

“I always refer to players like, actually, ironically, in the same position, Brian O’Driscoll as a 13, and Barry Murphy that played with us previously as well.

“There were two centres that ran with the ball in two hands and played and teased defences, and Tom, he has the ability to do that.

“He showed unbelievable form over the last two seasons, and he justifies his call-up.

“I think [he can step up to international rugby].

“The thing with Tom is, he does it on the big days as well. He does it against the big teams.”

Munster will be without Gleeson, who suffered an elbow injury, while Edwin Edogbo is going through the return-to-play protocols following a head injury.

Both forwards were due to travel to the US as cover.

Hooker Diarmuid Barron had a scan on a neck injury, while Andrew Smith is ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Lock Jean Kleyn has been named by the Springboks in their squad for the autumn internationals, including a date with Ireland on 22 November.

Follow a live blog on Munster v Connacht in the URC on Saturday from 7.45pm on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra