Les Kiss braced for ‘best prepared Munster’

Ulster’s director of rugby Les Kiss attributes his side’s recent revival to mental as much as tactical improvement.

Since the heavy defeat at home to Saracens and an away loss to Leinster in Dublin, Ulster have surmounted the challenges of Toulouse (twice) and high-flying Connacht and go into this Saturday’s Pro12 inter-provincial with Munster looking to make it five wins in succession and consolidate their fourth place in the table.

“It’s probably a collection of things, but I think it would be the mindset that has been very important to us in embracing some of the areas of our game,” said Kiss, who will have skipper Rory Best and flanker Chris Henry back on board for the game.

“The commitment to that has been good. Tactically the game we had moved to was something the players had not only to embrace but that it made sense to them.

"They are now really finding their feet in it now. When you get that mindset about committing to something your skillsets can be executed more accurately.

“That’s what I’ve been doing since I came in. We’ve challenged ourselves, our group, and tried to change the way we look at things and those habits are forming all the time.

"Players are now demanding more of each other and I’ve got to say that I’ve been very happy the way they have faced each challenge, and Saturday will be another big one.

“Last week against Connacht, we didn’t quite get the execution that we would have liked in our game-plan, but a very important element of that game-plan was holding our nerve for 20 minutes, and pushing the game when we needed to in manipulating the last scrum to get the score.

“So really, it came down to one little moment of holding your nerve and backing it up with tactical nous and it came off for us.”

Kiss knows what to expect from Anthony Foley’s embattled side.

“I’ve known Axel fairly well and I can imagine that they will be circling the wagons and getting themselves geared up for what could be the match of the season for them.

"You got to wonder what they are thinking and how they are going to go about their business. But the answer will probably be it will be the best-prepared Munster team to come up here.

"They are very proud of what they stand for and I can imagine it is going to be one big battle.

“But we also have to recognise that we cannot go too far off the track of what we are trying to achieve make sure we still back ourselves and understand the game and in inter-pros and facing desperate teams like Munster, that we will still be able to tough out the tough moments.”