Munster's Brown hopes physical test perfect prep for Leinster rematch

PERFECT PRESENT: Munster's Katie Corrigan is thrown into the air by her teammates in celebrating her 21st birthday. Pic ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Munster head coach Matt Brown said the physicality of their clash with Connacht on Saturday sets them up perfectly when they return to Dexcom Stadium in Galway next weekend to take on Leinster in the final of the Vodafone women’s inter-pro championship.

Munster, already through to the final, started with 13 of the side which hammered Ulster 62-0 the previous week, and despite ousting Connacht by 47-12 in the end, Brown felt it was a great preparation for their showdown with Leinster.

“I know we got a few scores there at the end, but we were just saying as coaches there, that was easily the most physical of the three we've played by a long way,” said Brown after the seven tries to two victory.

“I think for whatever we might have got wrong structurally, we worked really hard.

The fact that we managed the physical side after Connacht’s quick start, that's probably what I'm most pleased with, that we stuck in there and we stayed in there.” 

Connacht hooker Uillian Eilian crowned her debut with a try off a lineout drive in the third minute but Munster took over from there.

Winger Alanna McInerney started her hat-trick in the sixth minute and hooker Alisha Flynn got the first of her two after 25 minutes. Outhalf Caitriona Finn, who converted six of their seven tries, dummied twice to score seven minutes from the break to lead 21-5.

McInerney completed her hat-trick by the 56th minute with two tries out wide after Flynn had driven over for her second.

Connacht pulled back a try when No.8 Jemima Adams Verling scored off the base off a scrum from distance with Munster loosehead Siobhan McCarthy in the bin.

But it was the champions who finished in style as replacement scrumhalf Abbey Salter-Townsend darted over for their seventh try 14 minutes from the end.

Brown said the progress made by the young players was hugely encouraging and that so much of it was down to the rugby programme they are working off.

“They're outstanding rugby players and I think we're probably cashing in on what they've been through before in the pathway and the fact that they're training in a professional environment now with the Irish programme,” said Brown.

“So they're just playing rugby every day and that's got to stand for something and they're essentially full-time professionals and now you're starting to see at a young age that they're showing that on the pitch now with the decisions they make, the skills they execute and just the general rugby IQ that they've got even at a young age. So all it does is benefit the team,” he added.

His side will now bid to retain their inter-provincial title next Saturday against a Leinster side they beat 36-21 in Cork a few weeks ago.

Scorers for Connacht: Tries: U Eilian, J Adams Verling. Con: S Hession.

Munster: Tries: A McInerney (3), A Flynn (2), C Finn, A Salter-Townshend. Cons: Finn (6).

CONNACHT: C Barrett; C Gorman, A McGann, L Clarke (S Purcell 36), E Foley; M Deely (S Hession 62), A Reilly (co-capt) (A Heaney 63); E Burns (É O'Mahoney 70), U Eilian (J Keating 43), L Morris (H Coen 32); F Oviawe, P Garvey (E Fabby 38); E Kelly (H Johnston 55), A Quinn (co-capt), J Adams Verling.

MUNSTER: A Corey (capt); A McInerney, L Linn, E Breen (K Flannery 60), C Ugwueru (K Corrigan 60); C Finn, E Lane (A Salter-Townshend 60); S McCarthy, B Buttimer (E Dunican 60), A Flynn (A O'Malley 76); A O'Flynn, J Clohessy (N O’Mahony 51); C O'Halloran (C Murphy 59), S Kelly (O’Halloran 76), G Moore (T Ryan 76).

Referee: Alana Kerr (Ulster).