Stephen Archer – “The Interpros are always something different”

At the start of the season, Stephen Archer – an Irish International – might have felt some pressure to maintain his starting berth in Munster’s Champions Cup XV after seeing the emergence of John Ryan last season at tighthead.

Ryan earned his first international call up and cap during Ireland’s 2017’s Six Nations campaign and went on to feature in their summer tour of the US and Japan.

But Archer has been excellent this season turning in some fine performances and has been started both of Munster’s European Champions Cup games this season.

Looking ahead to what is sure to be another huge inter-provincial clash this Friday night in Galway, the Cork man admits there is always that added edge to these rivalries.

“The interpro’s are always something different. You know players better, theres a bit of, not banter, not hatred, but you know fellas inside out so it’s going to be a real tough affair”

Munster’s form in the Pro 14 has been mixed in general with four wins from six games but what would have been of a bigger concern was the manner of the defeats to Leinster and Glasgow where indiscipline and some poor defence were big issues.

However, recent European performances will have given Munster some encouragement and belief that they can go Galway and get the result on Friday night that will copper fasten their hold on second place in Conference A of the Pro14.

For their part, Connacht have struggled to get going in this year’s new Pro14 format and find themselves languishing in second from bottom of Conference A. It has been a difficult start to Kieran Keane’s tenure at the western province whose only win of the campaign has come courtesy of their  home victory over the Southern Kings.

Munster have endured some real dog fights in Galway in recent years with the wet weather often detracting from the game. However weather predictions for Friday evening are favourable which should lead to a more enjoyable spectacle.

Weather forecast for Galway on Friday evening

Despite Connacht’s slow start to the Pro14, they come into Friday’s game on the back of two good Challenge Cup wins, away to Oyonaxx and putting Worcester Warriors to the sword last weekend in Galway.

Archer knows Munster will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to claim the match points and believes that their European exploits over the last two weeks will stand to them come Friday evening.

“Sportsground historically a pretty tough place to play and weather wise, you have the monsoon like conditions up there. I don’t know what the forecast is like this weekend but hopefully last Saturday might be good preparation for that. Connacht are going well after 2 wins in Europe. It will be a tough match but looking forward to it.”