Niamh Briggs confident Munster can overcome Leinster 'hiccup'

Niamh Briggs says she's expecting a much-improved Munster in this Saturday's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final at Musgrave Park, after her side suffered a "hiccup" in their defeat to Leinster last weekend.

Munster and Leinster will meet in this weekend's final in Cork, seven days on from Leinster's 26-19 win in their round-robin clash at Energia Park in Donnybrook.

The defending champions were already assured of their place in this weekend's final before the defeat to Tania Rosser's side, who had to win to qualify for the decider.

And while Briggs says there was no complacency on Munster's part, she acknowledges that Leinster's need to win played a big part in the outcome.

"They [Leinster] played really, really well, they were fighting for a spot in this final, subconsciously I think it gives you a bit more of an edge," the Munster head coach said.

"We never spoke about Leinster having to win, we just spoke about ourselves, and wanting to improve on things from the Connacht week.

"Subconsciously I'm sure it’s very hard to stay on it, I think four weeks in a row is very difficult for any player professionally, let alone an amateur player.

"We were always going to have a dip, every team has had it, it’s just about how you can come back out of it, and it’s just unfortunate at the weekend we couldn’t get over that hump."

Munster should be boosted this weekend by the return of full-back Eimear Considine and wing Aoife Doyle (above) from injury, with the experienced international pair having sat out last week's game with minor injuries.

Nicole Cronin is also set to be involved again, with the co-captain having made her return from a long-term knee injury of the bench last week.

"I think this is the first week we're