A few images stayed in the head after Munster’s win at Welford Road ensured back-to-back success against Leicester Tigers and a firm grip of Pool 4 proceedings in the Champions Cup.
CJ Stander, with a contract not yet signed, engulfed by teammates, Jack O’Donoghue posing for photos with the Munster fans, Peter O’Mahony enjoying a beer in the team bus on the way home.
The following morning had an even better set as Billy Holland, who was immense in that game, posted some snaps. The one that stood out was that of 13 Munster forwards crammed down their end of the ‘Away’ dressing room at Welford Road. This is what victory looks like.
A great day to represent this team. We are lucky to have such incredible suporters. #SUAF @Munsterrugby pic.twitter.com/SF04VHmI4Z
— Billy Holland (@billyholland) December 18, 2017
There are no backs on show and, when we spoke with Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne for The Hard Yards podcast, we asked him if the forwards got their own dressing room in the cramped, old ground. Jerry Flannery, the Munster forwards coach, did not escape a slagging.
“No, Fla drove that. I think we wanted to get a picture for his new bar, with all the forwards and to show all the good work he is doing here!”
Kilcoyne, one of the key figures in driving the craic on at Munster, then spoke superbly [from 12:20 below] about soaking up those winning moments and using them as motivation for tough battles that always lie ahead.
“It was an emotional high,” Kilcoyne says, “a big double-header. I don’t think the Leicester lads had been beaten back-to-back in [19] years.
“There was a small bit of history in that. And, you know, if you are constantly looking at the following week and you don’t enjoy the moment – enjoy beating Leicester at Welford Road – that’s what it is all about. Soaking in those wins. Sitting in the dressing room, sitting beside your mate, take a photo, have the craic. Soak it in and really enjoy it, because it doesn’t last forever. These wins are special.
“As the years have gone on for me, in rugby, I’ve really… before, you might play a good game but you’d be like, ‘Oh, I need to get this right for next week’. There’s always next week.
“But the more you enjoy these wins – and they don’t come around very often – I think that’s the real important thing.”
A Keith Earls comment is relayed to Kilcoyne. The Munster winger previously spoke about enjoy the soreness the morning after a game as he knows he has put in a shift for himself and his team.
“I’d say Keith gets that feeling once every couple of weeks,” Kilcoyne remarks. “We’re waking up for the last 12 years like that!”
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