Highs and lows in a rollercoaster season for Munster 

Injury woes, losing to Northampton and first Irish province to beat Toulon at home - a look back at the highs and lows of Munster's season. 

HIGHS AND LOWS: Peter O’Mahony’s decision to step down after a decade in the captaincy before last Christmas has paved the way for a new wave of leadership at Munster, with the former skipper still ready and willing and help them develop further into next season. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

LOWS 

Mid-Season Injury Woes 

The 2022-23 champions limped into the New Year without either an away win or an interprovincial success as the queue for the treatment table grew week on week. 

They travelled to Connacht on January 1 without injured players of the calibre of Peter O’Mahony, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Dave Kilcoyne, Diarmuid Barron, Joey Carbery, Alex Nankevill and Mike Haley, lost Eoghan Clarke and Fineen Wycherley before kick-off and then Oli Jager and Jack O’Donoghue in the first half. 

“Happy New Year,” Rowntree grumbled following the rain-sodden 22-9 Galway loss.

Losing home and way to Northampton 

Saints English Premiership champions they may now be but Saints laid down a marker for their title success with two impressive Champions Cup wins over the URC title holders, first in the pool at Thomond Park in January and then to knock them out in a Round of 16 clash at Franklin’s Gardens in April as Munster reeled from illness in the camp.

Coming up short to Glasgow 

Having earned top seeding and home advantage, Munster blew their chance to win back-to-back URC titles by falling to semi-final opponents the Warriors at Thomond Park. 

And they will be kicking themselves they lost their way when it mattered most, spurning a succession of strong positions and try-scoring opportunities as Glasgow took the only two that came their way in clinical fashion.

HIGHS 

Winning at Toulon 

A week after hitting rock bottom with that New Year’s Day derby loss at Connacht, Munster changed the narrative by heading to the south of France and becoming the first Irish province to win at Stade Felix Mayol, with a powerhouse Champions Cup pool performance by the Mediterranean.

Racing to the top of the table 

There is no trophy for finishing first in the regular-season standings after 18 rounds but the manner of Munster’s ascendancy to top spot in the second-half of the season was a joy to behold. 

Eight bonus-point wins in a nine-game winning run since January 1 accounted for 44 of a possible 45 league points and represented the rewards for an ambitious style of play which bodes well for the direction of travel next season.

Next-gen players, next-gen leaders 

Peter O’Mahony’s decision to step down after a decade in the captaincy before last Christmas has paved the way for a new wave of leadership at Munster, with the former skipper still ready and willing and help them develop further into next season. 

Tadhg Beirne is no youngster but has grown immeasurably as a leader, while hooker Diarmuid Barron was also stepping up to the plate in that regard before a foot injury in December. 

Crucially this campaign also saw Jack Crowley grow in stature at fly-half for province and country, deservedly earning the URC’s Next-Gen Player of the Season award. The future looks in safe hands.