Munster know 'lethal' Ulster attack will put them under pressure

Munster face Ulster in Belfast on Friday night with Richie Murphy's side finding form

Denis Leamy: "Ulster are one of the top sides in terms of their attack, so defensively they're going to put us under a lot of pressure." Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Munster are bracing for no let-up from their festive URC fixtures as they prepare to face Ulster in Belfast this Friday night in a bid to rebound from their home defeat by Leinster.

The southern province was beaten 13-8 last Saturday night as the defending champions avoided back-to-back league defeats to Munster with their seventh consecutive victory in Limerick to extend an unbeaten streak running back to 2018.

Now Clayton McMillan’s squad must regroup for another stern challenge as they travel north to face a rejuvenated and in-form Ulster side coming off a 29-24 derby victory over Connacht in Galway last time out last Saturday evening. The upshot of those round eight results will see Richie Murphy’s team host second-placed Munster placed just three points behind their rivals with a game in hand and defence coach Denis Leamy on Monday outlined the size of the task in front of the Reds in the first game of 2026.

“Ulster are flying it,” Leamy said. “I think they're showing a lot of quality there. Richie Murphy has done a really, really good job over the last while and they've got very good coaches in Jimmy Duffy and Mark Sexton and people like that, Willie Faloon, so they're really well put together and I saw them against Connacht the other night.

“Some of their attack is really lethal and loads of quality young Irish players, guys that are going to be there or thereabouts within Irish squads. I think it's a really good challenge for us.

“I think defensively, Ulster are one of the top sides in terms of their attack, so defensively they're going to put us under a lot of pressure. So that's something to get excited about and to get focused about.” 

Munster reported no fresh injury concerns from last Saturday’s derby defeat but Leamy admitted there were some emotional scars from the loss as Leo Cullen’s side avenged their emphatic 31-14 defeat in the reverse fixture at Croke Park last October 18.

“We're still working through that. Obviously, there's disappointment within the group, but I think ultimately on the night we just weren't good enough in our own key areas, like the breakdown. We just didn't apply enough pressure to get on the scoreboard against quality sides like Leinster, who are a really, really good side.

“They are key battles that you have to win and they're the work-ons going forward for us.” 

After a winning start to life under new head coach McMillan was ended with a Thomond Park loss to the table-topping Stormers on November 29, Munster have now lost twice at their Limerick fortress in as many league matches and Leamy added: “Any time you lose in Thomond it's not ideal, it's not what we set our standards at, but I think the Stormers and Leinster are two of the best sides in our league, so they have the ability to go anywhere and win.

“I think certainly against the Stormers, we didn't produce enough quality on the night to win the game. Then against Leinster, they get an early lead and I think we do well to stay in the game and stay in touch, but ultimately they find a way to engineer a couple of penalties and their defence on the night was very strong.

“We just didn't pressure them enough and get points on the board.” 

Both Ulster and Munster are set to reveal their teams for the Friday night clash at Affidea Stadium on Thursday at noon.