If it's Musgrave Park at 2.30 on a Saturday, it must be pressure time for Munster again. Not only does Munster expect against Neath this afternoon, Munster also awaits the first real performance of the season.
Though they've won four of their six games this season, Munster still haven't clicked. They've been fitful, and at times plodding; they know it, yet they can't quite put their finger on it.
Their post-match demeanour last week said as much. Despite beating Padova, they were far from beaming as they trooped off to a team meeting an hour after the full-time whistle. As fully-paid professionals, the ante is further raised, as it is for Declan Kidney, their first professional coach.
There's rumours aplenty of some disharmony in the camp, though there usually is given the bi-location within the province between Limerick and Cork.
In a bid to rectify it, the players have been based en bloc in one camp for the last two weeks; in Limerick for the first half of the week, Cork for the second.
The Munster Branch has issued 2,000 complimentary tickets; and manager Jerry Holland has publicly called for more support, after stating that last week's "disappointing" sub-2,000 crowd was "a long way off what it should be for a European Cup game." However, even Holland concedes that this is something of a Catch-22, as "I would also accept we're not playing attractive rugby."
Alas, this is not a vintage era for Munster back-play and Rhys Ellison's stock rises by the week in his injury-enforced absence.
Injuries to Tom Tierney, Ronan O'Gara and Killian Keane have compounded the problem. Kidney and co have called in Cian Mahony at inside centre while injecting some pace from full-back with the inclusion of Brian Roche. Barry Everett is selected on the back of just one A game (it would have been two had the IRFU sanctioned another A match with Connacht) following his summer groin operation. But that may be no bad thing, for Everett brings more flair to the position.
Whether Munster will be inclined to use it is another matter. Favouritism doesn't seem to sit well with them and they play as if another banana skin lurks around every corner; which is precisely the category into which Neath fall. One of the first casualties of professionalism, despite winning the Welsh league two seasons ago, the Welsh All Blacks had a bleak summer when bailed out of £600,000 debts by their Union, but not before a crippling player drain up front.
However, the infectious enthusiasm of new coach Lyn Jones, the former Welsh flanker, appears to be bearing fruit. Their league form has been middling; but they were only a point adrift of Perpignan after 50 minutes last week before a three-try salvo in five minutes put paid to them. Even then, Neath came back with two tries of their own.
Disconcertingly, given Munster's occasional vulnerability to a high tempo game, Neath play to a quick beat and run everything.
They have a genuine openside tearaway in the New Zealand-born, second-generation Welshman, Brett Sinkinston, and a turbo-charged Dave Tieuti on the right wing. Their captain and scrum-half Patrick Horgan is Irish qualified and was once approached by the IRFU.
With home advantage Munster should prevail, though it could be hard work again. A performance would be nice too.
