Munster set for more expansive style in United Rugby Championship campaign

Munster's Jack O’Donoghue: You’ll see a new style of rugby that is more expansive and a joy to watch. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Jack O’Donoghue has dropped a heavy hint that Munster will start the new season this weekend playing a newer, more expansive style of rugby as they prepare for stronger South African opposition in the inaugural United Rugby Championship.

With fewer games from which to qualify for the end of season play-offs and against fuller strength teams with no matches being played during Test windows in the Northern Hemisphere, the difficulty of getting to the business end of the campaign and also qualifying for Europe’s Champions Cup has become exponentially harder for the Irish provinces in 2021-22.