Munster and Connacht eye chance to get show back on the road

LOCKED IN: Tony Butler at Munster Rugby Squad Training, UL, Limerick. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Opportunity awaits in Galway this afternoon for a couple of provinces who have lost their way of late and are desperately in need of a morale-boosting start to 2024.

Connacht welcome Munster to a sold-out Sportsground for a URC derby with a lot more than interprovincial oneupmanship at stake. It has been a long time since either side enjoyed a victory, Munster last claimed a win on December 1, Connacht as far back as November 18. And if the former had a disappointing opening phase of their Champions Cup pool campaign last month, drawing at home with Bayonne then losing at Exeter Chiefs, the latter's was a calamity – heavy defeats at home to Bordeaux Begles and on the road at Saracens.