Kilcoyne: ‘Focus Firmly On Edinburgh’

Despite Munster’s impending return to European Champions Cup action, prop Dave Kilcoyne insists that Munster’s focus remains solely on Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO12 this weekend.

This weekend will see Munster look to consolidate their League play-off position heading into the season's first block of European games, while Edinburgh will look to reclaim their play-off spot having slipped out of the top 4 for the first time following last weekend's defeat away to Connacht.

Kilcoyne, who has featured in four of Munster's six games to date, is well aware of the quality that lies in store at Murrayfield on Saturday.

"Edinburgh have had a good start to the season at home and will welcome back a lot of their internationals this weekend. They are coming off the back of two away defeats and will look to put that right at home this weekend. That together with their returning internationals will make them extremely tough opposition and they will come out all guns blazing.

"They play with a lot of width and are well able throw the ball around and when you put their capable backs together with their very solid scrum they have threats across the park. My battle starts up-front at scrum time and we go from there."

Munster begin their 2015/16 Champions Cup campaign against Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park on Saturday week – click here to purchase tickets – but the Munster front row maintains it's a case of first-things-first at training this week.

"There is a lot of talk about the Champions Cup kicking off the following weekend, but from our point of view we are not looking beyond Edinburgh this weekend. We set short term goals and take it game by game.

Winning five from six games represents a good return for Anthony Foley's men so far this season but Kilcoyne and his teammates are still striving for further improvements.

"We put a lot on emphasis on our work in the pack. Axel himself played there – he puts a lot of focus on our set-piece – scrum, lineout and maul – and that’s the starting point, to present quality ball and we work from there. It’s gone well enough so far but there’s still room for improvement. From my own point of view I’m always trying to put my best foot forward, chomping at the bit to improve every day and keep pushing on."

The 26-year-old is enjoying his rugby at present and is hopeful for the season ahead, especially with this season's new signings who he feels have bolstered the provincial squad.

"Credit to Axel and the coaching staff, they have brought in some excellent players, the likes of Francis (Saili), Mark (Chisholm), Jordan (Coghlan), Tyler (Bleyendaal) to name a few are key guys who have come in and are really adding value across the park. You’re at nothing if you don’t have competition for places in the squad. That drives a guys performance on the field which is what you want if we are to be as good as we can be."

Edinburgh v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 7, Saturday November 7th at Murrayfield – KO 5.15pm.

This game will be televised on Sky Sports. For Twitter updates follow @munsterrugby #EdiVMun