Munster want emotional balance as they look to honour Foley and Payne

Sheelagh Foley, mother of Anthony Foley, and Michelle Payne, a former Munster staff member, both died in recent week. 

Interim Munster head coach Ian Costello said Peter O'Mahony, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey and Jack Crowley all spoke well in recent weeks about using emotion to power performances. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Munster are discussing ways to pay their respects to Sheelagh Foley and Michelle Payne ahead of their URC quarter-final at the Sharks on Saturday but are once again trying to find the appropriate emotional levels to get the best out of themselves in a high stakes knockout clash.

Interim head coach Ian Costello and his 32-player squad arrived in Durban on Tuesday afternoon ahead of what they hope will be the opening play-off round of a repeat run to the URC title next month, their 2023 success built on road wins in Glasgow, Dublin and Cape Town. Yet the last-eight clash at Kings Park against the competition’s third seeds comes as the Munster family is grieving the loss of two women close to the organisation’s hearts.