Craig Casey: Munster keen to right more interpro wrongs

Defeat to Ulster would confirm Munster as wooden spoonists in the interpro mini-league.

Munster players, from left, Craig Casey, Simon Zebo and Alex Nankivell celebrate with teammate Calvin Nash. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

With a home URC play-off quarter-final just around the corner, Craig Casey sees Munster’s final league game of the campaign against Ulster as a perfect opportunity to repair both their Thomond Park and interprovincial records for the season.

The bonus-point URC win over Connacht on May 11 was Munster’s first interpro victory of the season at the fifth attempt and only their fourth win in Limerick in seven matches at Thomond Park during a 2023-24 campaign that has seen them held to a draw there by Champions Cup pool rookies Bayonne as well as lose to both Leinster in the league and Northampton Saints in Europe.

This Saturday’s Round 18 clash will see table-topping Munster welcome sixth-placed Ulster knowing a win will secure home advantage throughout the play-off campaign as the top seeds from the regular season. Yet if they lose a fifth derby of the season, it could mean going back on the road if they get through their already guaranteed home quarter-final the following weekend.

Defeat to Ulster would be a repeat of last season’s 15-14 Thomond Park loss to the northern province, and would confirm Richie Murphy’s new charges as Irish Shield top dogs with five derby wins from six while confirming Munster as wooden spoonists in the mini-league. Yet scrum-half Casey believes the 47-12 victory over Connacht last time out on their home turf has seen Munster right some previous wrongs.

Asked how important the derby win was to the squad, Casey said: "Huge. I don't think we've been at our best in Thomond Park this year, and it's something we've talked about, especially those weeks, you can touch on those things.

“We weren't happy with where we were at, and really built on for that, and put in a massive performance against Connacht. Connacht were fighting for their lives. It was a real interpro and we were very happy with what we did in that game, and the scoreline at the end of it.

“Not a 'monkey off the back' but definitely something we can build on coming into these - hopefully - four games at home.” 

Returning to the interprovincial aspect of that Connacht win, Casey added: "Interpros are always big. We had those weeks off to touch on those things and realised we hadn't got a win in an interpro, and that's not good enough for a Munster team. We said that to each other. Whatever way it fell, we weren't good enough in those games to win.

“We had a hard look at that, we wanted to drive on at Thomond Park, we hadn't been good at Thomond Park either. It's weird, we're sitting top of the table, but haven't always been happy with where we were going.

Those weeks off have given us those opportunities to look hard at ourselves. It's a very important game this weekend. Ulster can win the Irish Shield if they win it, so they have great motivation.

“Another interpro to put our stamp on, and hopefully get a win at the end of it.” 

Currently on an eight-game winning run, Munster’s mood has been further boosted by memories of last season’s Grand Final victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, the first anniversary of which was on Monday.

“It's mad to think it's a year ago,” Casey said on Tuesday. “What a memory to have. I was getting a few memories on my phone popping up yesterday and it just kind of brings back all the buzz about it and makes you hungry for more… and by seeing those memories popping up again, it creates an extra buzz for the week, and coming into a big game before the play-offs, it gets you hyped.” 

On a personal level, Casey believes he has made giant strides in his game since that famous night in South Africa.

“Massively so. I think a lot has happened in those 12 months to be fair. We had a full pre-season in Irish camp after that, which I learned an awful lot, going into a World Cup. they you had the eight weeks over at the World Cup, you definitely become a better player over there, and take your learnings from that New Zealand game. I didn't play, but you still take your learnings from what you were trying to do.

“Then you get consistent gametime coming back to Munster and drive on into the Six Nations. Coming back from the Six Nations, after another medal, you obviously learn an awful lot from being in a winning environment.

“Then it's been back-to-back, back-to-back, back-to-back after that. Like I said, I've played an awful lot this season, probably the most I've ever played, especially in the 9 jersey. I think you learn from those.

“I've turned 25 as well, so I'm obviously not at the younger scale anymore. I've learned an awful lot about my game and where I need to put focus on, and what I need to pull back as well. I think that's been a good part.”