The deeper the hole the greater Munster's will to climb out

It says much about Munster’s standing in rugby country that their current state of ill health is consuming more column inches and debate than Leinster’s relentless march towards further glories.

The run of form which has seen just two wins from the last seven starts has prompted debates from barstools to national radio station studios and last Friday’s sorry defeat in the PRO14 up at Ulster only magnified the intensity of the discussion.