Answer Axel’s Call

"Throughout the years, our supporters were there for us. Hopefully we see the same on Saturday." The words of Head Coach Anthony Foley as he calls on all Munster supporters to make their voices heard at this Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final against Ospreys at Thomond Park.

Munster have not played a home PRO12 semi-final since 2011 and incidentally it was also Ospreys who provided the opposition on that occasion – Munster winning out 18-11 before going on to claim their most recent piece of silverware against Leinster in the final.

PRO12 history would suggest that the advantage lies firmly with the hosts – no away team has ever won a semi-final – but Foley knows that fans-in-numbers are essential to making full use of home advantage.

“We’ve worked hard to get our semi in Thomond and it’s important that we use that home advantage to spur us on to a final. In order to make our advantage count we need our supporters to turn up at 2.30 on Saturday and make their voices heard.

“After a poor start to the season, fans didn’t walk away from us, they stuck with us. With a new coaching group and some new players, we grew. And we’re now at the back end of the season where there has been a lot of growth.

“Thomond Park is literally just a pitch and a stadium. What made it special was the people in the stands and in the stadium and the atmosphere they brought with them that allowed us to feed off them.

“They knew how important it was for us to win for Munster and they came along and supported us. I think from there, great days and great nights were grown.”

Foley is hoping for such impassioned support again this Saturday, especially against a side as formidable as the in-form Ospreys.

“Ospreys came over here, gave us a rude awakening to the season and we saw how good the likes of Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric were that day. They have a lot of calibre and threats in their side and we’re fully aware of that obviously having lost to them twice this season.

“However, we get another go at them now and we get to do it in Thomond Park. There are a lot of elements to playing at home – we need to give a performance that supporters can get beyond and of the flip side the crowd need to turn up and create the atmosphere for which Thomond Park has been famous over the years.

“When Thomond Park is at full voice it’s hard to compete with and that would give us a good leg up in trying to get a result. Throughout the years, our supporters were there for us. Hopefully we see the same on Saturday.”

Answer Axels Call, join us on the #HomeRun as Munster bid to turn Thomond Park into a #FieldOfDreams this Saturday – KO 2.30pm.

Tickets from just €;20 for Adults and great value Family Terrace Packs from just €;40 are available to purchase online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.

GROUP SPECIAL OFFER – 20 Junior tickets & 5 Adult tickets just €;100.
Should your local youth groups, club or school, etc be interested in availing of this offer, please contact the Munster Rugby Ticket Office on 061-421103 or by emailing tickets@munsterrugby.ie

These tickets are subject to availability so don't delay and are located in the terraces at Thomond Park.