"Bounce back" - Munster buoyed by win over Dragons after 'bitter pill' Champions Cup exit

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Munster crashed out of the pinnacle European competition following a fifth placed finish in the pool stages, after a disappointing 29-31 defeat to Castres. Clayton McMillan's side are however hopeful in the URC, as they now prepare to play Glasgow Warriors on Friday 30^th, following their recent 22-20 win against the Dragons.

The Irish side are disappointed to be out of the Champions Cup so early, in what marks only the fourth time since 1998 that the province have left the tournament at the pool stage. However, coach, Mike Prendergast is keen to move on from this, and instead focus on the positive performance in the URC.

In reference to the exit, he said “As a club, we were gutted. That’s why at the weekend; it was good to bounce back and get a win after a tough pill to swallow. You’ve got to get back on the horse quickly.”

He suggested that despite the win, his team could have put on a better performance in the two-point nail-biter. “It was really important that we got a performance and a result, we didn’t get the performance we wanted but we got the result.”

Munster came back from behind to achieve the win against Dragons and ended their four-game losing streak. Brian Gleeson got points on the board for Munster in the 39^th minute to bring some ease into the game just before the half time whistle.

With the Six Nations starting next week, Munster will lose key international players such as Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and Tom Farrell to the Ireland squad. This does not worry Munster scum-half, Ethan Coughlan, who said “In terms of on the pitch, it wouldn’t really change us as a group, we’re all coached the same way.”

When looking at the URC table, fifth placed Munster are five points behind table toppers Glasgow, who have now won eight games in a row. The game takes place at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on 30^th January, with a 19:45 kick off.

1. Munster have beaten Dragons 28 times, whereas Dragons have only secured 9 wins against them.

2. In 2024 Glasgow Warriors beat Munster in the URC semi-final to reach the final and secured the win against Bulls.

3. 19 Glasgow Warriors players have been named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad, compared to 8 players from Munster joining the Ireland team.

4. Munster’s Edwin Edogbo, an uncapped player, has received his first senior Ireland call up.

5. Jack Crowley is Munster’s leading points scorer in the 25/26 URC season with 48 points and 5^th overall in the tournament.