'We’ve got to fire punches, we’ve got to be brave.'

Munster may have experienced a slight stutter at the hands of Ulster in Limerick last Saturday before running out 29-24 winners but the defence coach is demanding nothing but positivity as the titleholders switch approach to the win or go home stage of the competition.

NEED TO BE BRAVE: Munster will embark on the URC knockout trail at Thomond Park tonight (7:35pm) encouraged to be bold and brave against an Ospreys side they believe are far better than their eighth-place seeding suggests. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Munster will embark on the URC knockout trail at Thomond Park tonight (7:35pm) encouraged to be bold and brave against an Ospreys side they believe are far better than their eighth-place seeding suggests.

Denis Leamy this week urged the URC defending champions and top seeds to embrace the increased expectation that comes from racking up eight bonus-point victories in their nine-game winning run that saw Munster finish top of the standings after 18 rounds of regular-season action. Yet the assistant coach and former serial trophy winner also wants his successors in red to impose their strengths on the Welsh region in this evening’s quarter-final.