Alan Quinlan joined OTB AM to reflect on Munster's victory over Leinster in the Rainbow Cup and to discuss what the future might hold for the Munster coaching ticket.
Munster were comprehensive 27-3 victors over a much changed Leinster side on Saturday evening.
"Munster were kind of on a hiding to nothing," Quinlan said.
"They needed to stop the rot though, they played Leinster five times in eight months and Leinster had won all of them bar the weekend. I think it was just really important psychologically to get a result."
Talk soon shifted to the future of the Munster coaching ticket and Quinlan was asked if he thinks that it will remain intact.
"I’m not hearing anything different and I would be of the opinion that it should stay intact," he said.
"I think they have to figure it out themselves where they are going. It’s a collective effort. Sometimes its down to personnel, sometimes it’s down to coaching.
"We’ve seen a transition in the way they have played this year and we’ve seen some positive glimpses of more expansion in the attack."
Quinlan did though acknowledge the frustration of many Munster fans.
"There is a frustration in Munster that they haven’t won a trophy in ten years and that their biggest rivals are setting the bar so high," he said.
"Attracting Graham Rowntree and Stephen Larkham was a great coup for Munster, but next season, they have to win a couple of these big matches.
"Getting to semi-finals and finals is fine but there will be a real need to get a trophy next year.
"It will be difficult for Johann van Graan as well because he is going into his last year and there will be uncertainty around whether he will have his contract extended or not.
"But I think they deserve another crack at it next season and I’d be optimistic that they can take that next step."
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