Ruan Pienaar expects tough challenge from Munster

Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar knows that Munster will still be in the mood to clear all in front of them in the big Guinness PRO12 derby at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.

The death of head coach Anthony Foley will linger long in the memory for the men in red and they will want to continue playing as if he is watching over them from above. Pienaar is expecting nothing less than total commitment from fifth-placed Munster, who can knock Ulster off their number one spot with a third victory on the trot in meetings of the sides.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” stressed Pienaar. “It’s always a tough game against Munster. It has been a hard two weeks for them with the passing of Anthony and all the emotions that came with that. It certainly has spurred them on to perform well for him.”