Focus on the breakdown for Munster ahead of derby with Leinster

While we're only approaching the one-third mark of the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season, the five rounds of games to date are more than enough evidence to suggest there's a target on Munster's back.

The defending champions are well placed ahead of their Round 6 meeting with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday; three wins and a draw from five games leaves them sixth overall, but just three points back from their opponents who top the table.

While they strolled past the Dragons at Musgrave Park, a look through their other four games would suggest their status as champions is bringing out the best in their opposition.

They eventually pulled clear against the Sharks on the opening day, but they were only 10 in front heading into the final quarter of an hour, and they're yet to win away from home having snatched a draw against a dogged Benetton before losing to a depleted Ulster in Belfast earlier this month.

Saturday's 10-3 win against the Stormers got them back on track, but the South African side were without their World Cup winners at Thomond Park. Even after the game, their head coach John Dobson was taking more positives than negatives about how they put it up to Munster, while the province's coach Graham Rowntree admitted they're getting used to being the team people want to beat.

"We spoke about that target on our backs but if we just keep getting better, things will take care of themselves in my mind. Keep bringing people through and getting better," he said on Saturday night.

While Munster showed their grit at Thomond Park on Saturday night, they'll need more than that this weekend against a Leinster side who have scored 182 points and 26 tries in just five games so far this season.

It's a first meeting