Archer: We Need To Keep Winning

Zebre are the visitors to Musgrave Park on Saturday night and prop Stephen Archer has preached the importance of Munster maintaining their superb home form (ko 6:45pm).

Munster have won all 10 of their home games so far this season and have lost just once in their last 13 fixtures.

Despite their excellent form, Rob Penney’s side have been unable to stretch their lead at the top of the PRO12 table with Leinster lurking just three points behind in second place.

Munster secured a bonus-point win against Cardiff Blues last Saturday but Leinster answered with a bonus-point win of their own over Zebre the following day and Archer is keen to extend Munster’s unbeaten home record against the Italians in Cork.

“It’s very important to keep the momentum going,” said the 26-year-old who has now played 67 times for Munster.

“We had a good performance and a good win last week, it was great to get the bonus point. But I think if we look at the teams around us in the table, they’ve done the same. There’s no real breathing space for us up there so we just need to keep winning matches and stay on top of that table.”

Munster have won all three of their clashes at Musgrave Park so far this season after the disappointment of last year when Scarlets and Cardiff Blues both took wins back to Wales after some lacklustre displays from the home side at the Cork venue.

“Last year we didn’t give them much to cheer about,” explained Archer.

“We had a few poor performances and lost a few matches, that was disappointing but this year has been a lot better. We’ve had some good performances and got some good wins so hopefully the Cork crowd will come out again now on Saturday and hopefully we’ll give them something to cheer about.”

After their winless debut campaign last season, Zebre have enjoyed a much more successful second term as they have recorded historic first wins at home and away.

The Italians lie second-bottom of the PRO12 table and were beaten by Leinster last Sunday but should be strengthened by the return of some of their internationals at the weekend.

“They’re improving the whole time,” said Archer.

“They’ve a few lads involved with the Italian squad so they’ll have plenty of good players coming back in. Like any Italian team they’re fairly confrontational up front and they’re fairly physical so we’ll have to be on top of the set-piece and defend well.”

The Corkman was one of 10 Munster players included in an extended 44-man Irish squad prior to the Six Nations but, like a number of his team-mates, Archer missed out on selection for the final squad.

He made his Ireland debut against Italy in last season’s Six Nations and earned his second cap against Australia in the autumn internationals and Archer is hopeful of forcing his way back into the reckoning with another good performance on Saturday.

He said: “There is a bit of extra motivation, you’re mad to get back into that international set-up. Obviously with the way they’re going it will be tough to get in there but these matches provide an opportunity to show what you can do and hopefully put your hand up.”

Munster face Zebre at Musgrave Park this Saturday, 15th February at 6:45pm and tickets can be purchased online here.