In Pics: Preparing For Scarlets

After last week’s narrow victory over the Ospreys, the boys are back to work at the University of Limerick ahead of hosting the Scarlets at Thomond Park on Friday (7.35pm).

It’s back to Limerick as Munster recover from their massive top-of-the-table win against Ospreys last Saturday evening. This week the squad face the prospect of fourth placed Scarlets, who will undoubtedly offer another stern test as the competition for places heats up in the PRO12.

Last week saw Munster stay top of the table and with just four points separating the top three teams and seven rounds remaining it's shaping up for an enthralling finish.

The result the other night again showed Munster’s ability to pull a victory from the jaws of defeat, and Munster and Irish International Dave Kilcoyne explained the source behind that ability to perform under pressure.

“Our whole thing is we don’t panic. That’s our mantra, we might lose a battle here and there but as long as you put yourself in more that’s all we can ask. I think everyone did that, I don’t think anyone panicked we knew that we could win it and we did in the end.

“We started poorly, we were passive in defence at the start of the game and it cost us.

“We left it late but I think we showed real heart in the squad to go down so early in the game and then come back and eventually win it. I thought it showed real character and sometimes you learn more from a game like that than the game where we beat the Ospreys 33-0 before Christmas. Lads really had to stand up and show what they were all about.”

In looking ahead to Friday night's challenge against Scarlets Kilcoyne added, “They are going very well, they’re one of the in-form teams at the moment and they’re after beating Glasgow in Scotstoun which is no easy feat so we will have our work cut out for us.

“They are going to want to prove a point in Thomond Park.”

View the gallery from this week's indoor training session here.

Munster v Scarlets, Guinness PRO12 Round 16, Friday February 24th at Thomond Park, 7.35pm (TG4).

Tickets from:
Adult €;20
Junior €;7
Student €;7
Family (2 adult & 2 junior) €;40

Munster v Scarlets tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 061 421103.