“Having that support behind us means a lot” | Mike Prendergast and John Hodnett look ahead to Ulster clash at Thomond Park

Munster were victorious in their first and only game at Thomond Park against Vodacom Bulls this season.

Graham Rowntree and co. must dust themselves off and go again in the URC this weekend when they host second placed Ulster this Saturday.

The province were defeated last weekend in their second Interpro of the season, with the score finishing 27-13 in Leinster’s favour, who sit top of the table with six wins from six.

Back-to-back fixtures against the top two will be difficuly in any circumstance, but with Munster’s current form and their injury list piling up, it’s been made a lot tougher.

But Munster coach Mike Prendergast believes the home advantage for the side can prove to be instrumental for the clash as he believes they have the support to get them over the line once they give them something to connect with.

Yet, Prendergast also acknowledges the threat that Ulster can bring and the task that the side must face.

“We’re at home, which is great. We saw that in the Bulls game what the crowd, when we gave them something to connect with, what they brought. Going back to Thomond Park again on Saturday is something we’re all looking forward to, having that support behind us means a lot.”

“Last week we played the best team in the URC, we’re playing the second best team on the weekend who have started the season really really well. We know it’s going to be a huge task and a huge job ahead of us but something we’re looking forward to absolutely.”

Also one media duty this week was 23-year-old John Hodnett who anticipates a tough battle in their third Interpro of the season.

Hodnett highlighted Ulster’s physicality in particular and believes that if the side can match them in that regard then they will stand a chance.

“They’re a big physical team, they’ve a good backline as well so just trying to match their physicality and we’ll be in Thomond Park so the crowd are always behind there so I suppose we just have to match them with their physicality and go from there.”

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Accept YouTube Content

Munster face Ulster at 5:15pm this Saturday at Thomond Park in the seventh round of the United Rugby Championship.