New year, new Munster as Hurley plans to banish Blues

Munster will be looking to put Cardiff Blues under 80 minutes of pressure as they tune up for must-win Heineken Cup battles later this month with a RaboDirect Pro12 clash on Saturday at Musgrave Park, Cork.

After a winning, yet underwhelming, interprovincial double over Christmas, Rob Penney’s side has this one game left to find the killer instinct and consistency of performance needed to get maximum points out of a Pool 1 trip to Edinburgh on Jan 13 and at home to Racing Metro seven days later.

Wins in Connacht, and at Thomond Park last Saturday, over league leaders Ulster have strengthened Munster’s position in the Rabo top four, yet both performances highlighted the feeling that there is still some way to go before Penney’s new game plan kicks into top gear.