I don’t think making final was part of Munster plan – Denis Leamy

Munster’s defence coach has played a major role in guiding the team back to a final, as the province aim to win their first trophy since 2011, when Leamy featured as a player.

Graham Rowntree has steadied the ship, while his assistants have made a big impact to put Munster on the cusp of what would be a historic success in Cape Town this weekend.

“Was it part of the plan? I don’t think I can say it was part of the plan,” Leamy said when asked if getting to a final was one of the management’s immediate goals when they took over last summer.

“Obviously you can dream and you need to dream in sport, don’t you?

“But the reality is, and I would have sat in front of you guys (media), going back in August, September, October, and it was game-by-game.

“And honestly, it has been game-by-game. It has felt like a lot of these games have been almost that cup final mentality.

“We haven’t played many games that didn’t have huge significance. Every game we have played has almost been a cup final mentality.

“So, to get to the actual final and to have something available that is tangible at the end of this game is fantastic The process of going through that huge battle that it’s going to be, well that’s the challenge and that’s the stuff that we are really excited about.”

Leamy confirmed that the Munster squad had arrived in Cape Town without any issues on the back of the long-haul flight, with Jean Kleyn and Ben Healy taking part in training yesterday, along with the other 28 travelling players.