Munster's Thomond fortress gone as Connacht seek rare derby win

If Munster aren't careful there's a real danger they are going to end up with a home run in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.

The defending champions have won their last six league games and have moved to the lofty position of third.

It stands in stark contrast to last season's run-in when they famously became road warriors of some renown on their way to ultimate glory in the competition.

Again, this season, their strike rate away from home, particularly in South Africa for the last two rounds where they picked up 10 points, has gotten them to where they are.

Thomond Park is far from the fortress it once was.

They have beaten Sharks, Stormers and Cardiff at the Limerick venue with the opening home game of the season against the visitors from Durban the only victory by more than a score.

A second-string Bayonne outfit almost pulled off a shock win with honours ending even in the Champions Cup, while 14-man Northampton Saints deservedly took the spoils.

The two-time Heineken Cup champions, meanwhile, picked up three comprehensive wins when relocated to Cork for matches against Dragons, Glasgow and Zebre.

Add in the Christmas derby defeat, 9-3, to Leinster back in December and the message that Connacht boss Pete Wilkins will have hammered home to his charges this week is that the ground itself, for today's 5.15pm kick-off, should hold no fear.

The threats, as Connacht chase a play-off place from seventh position with three rounds left, are elsewhere.

RG Snyman and Tadhg Beirne continue in the second row in a partnership that - if the circumstances were different - would be showing plenty of signs of promise.

As it is, the double World Cup winner will forge his path in blue next season.

The pair can do serious damage today and