'It hasn’t been mentioned' - 2023 URC title win not on Munster minds ahead of Sharks trip

Munster face a potentially similar route to the 2025 decider as they did two years ago with a daunting challenge against the third-seeded Sharks at Durban’s Kings Park.

Calvin Nash is tackled by Alessandro Garbisi during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Benetton at Virgin Media Park. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Munster’s odds-defying run to the 2023 URC title may be etched into supporter’s minds and hearts but Calvin Nash said the team had not discussed their remarkable knockout performances on the road ahead of this Saturday’s quarter-final against the Sharks in South Africa.

Ireland wing Nash was part of the squad which ended a 12-year wait for silverware when Glasgow, Leinster and then final opponents the Stormers were beaten on successive weekends.

Now Munster face a potentially similar route to the 2025 decider with a daunting challenge against the third-seeded Sharks at Durban’s Kings Park.

Nash, who started the quarter-final win at Scotstoun, missed the following week’s Aviva Stadium semi-final following a failed Head Injury Assessment and then returned in the Cape Town final to score a try in a famous 19-14 victory over the Stormers, said: “Being honest, it hasn’t been something that we’ve mentioned, it’s been two years, the team is different.

“A few of us do have a few reference points but we are taking the game as it is. We are taking each game week by week. The last two games that we had essentially were knockout games for us and we weren’t in the best position in the URC.

“That’s how we treated them and this week will be no different.” Nash has enjoyed mixed fortunes at Kings Park, with a regular season draw there the highpoint as Munster secured their play-off place in that title-winning season coming three weeks after a humbling 50-35 Champions Cup Round of 16 loss to the Sharks.

Munster also lost heavily in Durban last October but Nash had already experienced victory as an Ireland player three months earlier when Ciaran Frawley’s drop goal secured a series-tying win over the Springboks in the second Test against the world champions.

“The games over here are some of the hardest games you’ll play in the URC,” Nash said from Durban on Wednesday.

“Even last summer, some of the hardest internationals I’ve played. You know you have to step up a bit here and it always takes a bit extra to win down here. That’s what we are targeting here, trying to get the most out of ourselves.”