Fourth-placed Munster moved six points ahead of eight-placed Ulster with their convincing 35-3 bonus-point win over Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
Man of the Match from the game Paul Warwick said Munster had largely contributed to their own downfall on recent visits to Ravenhill.
Warwick said: “We have been guilty of going into our shell, making a lot of errors and being probably intimidated up there in Ravenhill.
“Hopefully, with the ball starting to roll now, we can squash that and really give it to Ulster next week.”
Paul Warwick was largely pleased with how Munster performed against Connacht despite the absence of their front-line Irish internationals.
The likes of Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Keith Earls, Tomas O’Leary and John Hayes are set to miss the trip to Belfast this weekend as they are on another week of active rest.
The versatile Warwick said Munster were fortunate to have such strength and depth in the squad.
“We are blessed with the talent with we have in the squad. It makes it really hard for guys on the fringe to crack the side,” Paul Warwick said.
“It was what our Magners League win was based on last season, having guys on the fringes who are hungry to get a result and especially with the pack against Connacht I thought that was evident.
“All eight of them were terrific. There is a hunger, when you put on the jersey, that we are starting to find again.
“Maybe we were guilty of not showing it at the start of the season. There is a real hunger to drive on now after the result in Perpignan.
“It was important,” he said, “to get the bonus point against Connacht. It keeps us in touch with the top of the League. We haven’t played well yet and we are only three points off top spot before tonight. That is a pretty good place to be, I think.
“If we can start building going forward, hopefully we will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.”
The win over Connacht on St. Stephen’s day came at a cost. Full-back Felix Jones has been ruled out of action for the immediate future having sustained a neck injury in the opening half of the game at Thomond Park. The injury to Jones occurred in the 14th minute after an accidental collision. He was stretchered off and immediately removed to hospital where Felix Jones remained overnight.
A statement issued today by Munster Rugby read: “Felix Jones will be out of action for the immediate future. The full-back damaged neck ligaments as a result of an accidental collision early in the game with Connacht.
“He was immediately removed to hospital for examination and will remain there for continuing observation for a number of days.”
Confirmation of Jones’ injury comes on the back of the long-term injury sustained by Denis Leamy which will keep him sidelined for between four and six months.
Colm Kinsella
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