Ian Costello seeking consistency from Munster

Munster may well travel to Italy this weekend within reach of the Guinness PRO12 lead but they are acutely aware how quickly their status could change if they allow complacency to creep in ahead of Saturday’s visit to Zebre.

Anthony Foley’s side has been riddled with inconsistency of late, and not just from one game to the next but also over 80 minutes. Interval leads were blown on their last two away games, at Glasgow and Connacht, the second-half meltdown in Galway on New Year’s Day undoing all the good work Munster had put in on St Stephen’s Day when they cast aside arch rivals Leinster at Thomond Park.

Yet, after a weekend which saw the top two sides Ospreys and Glasgow beaten and Ulster fail to take advantage in going down at Leinster, Munster remained in third, still only three points off top spot.