Stephen Ferris says Munster deserve major credit for going from being written off as the worst Irish province a year ago to now being the side that everyone is chasing in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The Munstermen won just two of their first seven league matches at the start of last season to leave them languising down towards the bottom of the table.
But, under head coach Graham Rowntree, they staged a remarkable revival, making it into the play-offs and then winning successive games away from home to take the title, beating the DHL Stormers in the final down in Cape Town.
Former Ireland international Ferris – a pundit for Vodacom URC broadcasters Viaplay – expects them to be challenging for honours again this time around.
“It was a weird one,” said the ex-Ulster back row man.
“Munster were the fourth placed Irish province at the start of last season. That was all the chat around the country, that Munster were now the worst province.
“Then they grew throughout the season and it’s turned on its head. They are now the number one and we are all trying to chase them down.
“You have to give them credit that they found their way during the season. It wasn’t pretty at times and it wasn’t perfect, but they were able to just peak at the right time.
“Graham Rowntree has been used to semi-finals and finals throughout his rugby career and that came through in the way the lads performed for him.
“That semi-final against Leinster was honestly one of the best games of rugby I have ever witnessed. It was unbelievable. The quality of rugby was excellent.
“I fully expect those two sides to be up challenging again this year and Munster will certainly want to defend their title.”
Reflecting on the league as a whole, Ferris, who is part of the Viaplay TV team broadcasting every Vodacom URC game live throughout the season, said: “What we all wanted three years ago was for the league to become much more competitive and that’s exactly what has happened.
“Going away from home is really a big struggle now. It’s a little bit like the French Top 14 where you target all your home games and try and nick two or three away to get into the play-offs.
“You might have one or two teams that are always sitting at the top of the log, but there is going to be so much fighting for those other five or six places in the top eight. It’s ultra competitive.”
*Stephen Ferris is part of the Viaplay team bringing live coverage of every Vodacom United Rugby Championship game. All 151 fixtures are live on Viaplay throughout the season from round one to the Grand Final.
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