Now it’s time for Munster to stand up and fight

Anthony Foley needs his beaten up Munster squad to stand up and be counted this week as he prepares them for the biggest challenge of his short tenure as head coach. 

As he tries to a figure out a way to rebound from this physically and mentally bruising defeat, the first to a French side at Thomond Park in 19 seasons of campaigning in Europe, Foley must ensure his players cast out whatever afflicted them on Saturday in Limerick and contributed to a shockingly poor performance against a high-intensity Clermont Auvergne side.

He needs them to regroup quickly and focus on what it will take to do what no team in Europe since Sale Sharks in 2008 has managed — win at Stade Marcel Michelin.