Gerry Thornley: Munster’s coffers would benefit from a rare home knockout tie

at all, and yet in some respects it is very like them. For much of the past fortnight since their, the men in red have let their rivals in blue hog the limelight, albeit Ronan O’Gara did his best to bring a Munster flavour to the quarter-finals. Now, true to type, Munster return to action backed into a corner somewhat of their own making.

But, helped by a week’s rest while they watched the Champions Cup quarter-finals from the outside, Munster returned to South Africa and a fortnight later overcome the Stormers, then the reigning champions, by 26-24, who were thus beaten at home for the first time since 2021.

Oli Jager also returns from injury to an impactful bench which features Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes, who had hitherto started every game this season, in a 6-2 split, with Craig Casey and Joey Carbery providing the backline cover.

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