Munster’ success against the odds in the United Rugby Championship at the weekend was hailed for its character and the resilience showed after weeks on the road.
The Irish province dethroned defending champions Stormers in front of some 56,000 home fans at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday to win the final 19-14 for a first major success in a decade.
It came despite a horror start to the season and having to play six successive away games in the closing stages of the URC, including the quarter-finals, semi and final.
“I spoke extensively about this being our sixth game away from home, can we do this?” said coach Graham Rowntree, “The places we’ve gone, the performances we’ve put in. We haven’t been perfect, we’re still growing our game but we always stick in the game. We’ve had some adversity.
“I’m unbelievably proud of everyone who’s involved in this prestigious club that is Munster Rugby.”
Munster had lost five of their first seven games in the URC regular season but eventually finished fifth in the standings, booking a place in the last eight but without the prospect of a home fixture in the knockout stages.
They last played at Thomond Park in April followed by an away odyssey that included four games in South Africa, success in Glasgow and a shock win over top ranked Leinster in Dublin in the URC semi-final and then Saturday’s victory where John Hodnett’s try four minutes sealed their victory.
“I’m immensely proud of this group, delighted for the whole of the province and its people,” added Rowntree, who took over as Munster coach at the start of the season.
“The current champions, in their home stadium. It was going to take a big game from us and it was a question of sticking in the game.
“Things didn’t go all our own way, there was some big moments in the game that went against us but you get hit back again, hit back again and recover.”
It was a fourth title for Munster, who last won the competition in 2011 when it was known as the Celtic League and involved clubs from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
It was rebranded from Pro-14 last year to the URC when four South African franchises were included. The Stormers won at their first attempt in 2022.
Photo by Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
