Peter O’Mahony: We must set our standards high

There isn’t much that Peter O’Mahony hasn’t experienced at this stage of his career but spending two weeks abroad in a bubble with his Munster teammates ahead of a crunch European game is a new departure.

The Munster squad returned home yesterday via Dubai from what turned out to be a successful tour to South Africa, with Johann van Graan’s men holding off a late rally from the Cheetahs to win 19-17 in Bloemfontein on Friday night. That meant a haul of nine points from the tour, having the previous week defeated the Southern Kings 39-22, and Munster captain O’Mahony said it has been a successful trip.

“It was. We spoke at the start that it was our first time coming out to South Africa. It was important that we set our standards high throughout the last two weeks, there were eight guys in both weeks who weren’t playing. They trained hard. We got a great reception from the South African people but ultimately it was down to the two games. Nine out of ten points is something that I don’t think anyone else in the PRO14 can say they came away with. So, we are very happy with it.” The attention has already switched to Sunday afternoon and the Champions Cup showdown with Racing 92 in Bordeaux and O’Mahony admitted the trip to South Africa ensures this is a build-up to a key European game like none before.