Munster have returned to South Africa for the second time in quick succession, confident of turning up the heat on the DHL Stormers when they face the defending champions in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Irish club is back in the Republic after their Champions Cup last-16 exit at the hands of the Sharks in Durban two weeks ago.
Sitting in fifth place and training fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors by six points, Munster are eager to make up ground to secure a home Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final and have travelled with a powerful squad featuring locks Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman.
In their last three games, Munster have conceded a total of 130 points, including shipping 50 points to the Sharks, but are confident of putting things right in Cape Town.
“It’s an honest group,” head coach Graham Rowntree said. “Of course we’ve drawn a line under it (the Sharks loss). We’ve spent a whole week looking at it, working things out, reviewing, working to get better.
“Then you’ve got to look forward because there is always another challenge around the corner and we’ve got a massive one on Saturday.
“So we’ve very much put it to bed and moved forward. That’s what you’ve got to do.
“I’m excited. This, for me, outside of Europe, is my most visited country on the planet.
“I’ve been here loads and I love coming back to South Africa, so I’m energised and excited and I’ll be passing that on to the lads.
“From what I’ve seen from the lads, they feel the same way as me.
“We’ve not played the Stormers since the start of last year and that first half at Thomond, they scored some good tries and they’re still doing that,” Rowntree added.
“They’re dangerous. Kick loosely to them, they get the ball to the edge well, a powerful pack, a powerful ball-carrying pack, so it’s another huge challenge for us.”
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