Munster's United Rugby Championship victory was important for Ireland's World Cup hopes later this year, particularly because it was in Cape Town, according to Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll.
In his first season as Munster head coach, Graham Rowntree took the western province from European Cup doubtfuls to URC champions.
They did it the hard way, though. Munster were on the road for the last six games of the URC, including their entire knockout run against Glasgow, Leinster and finally the Stormers in Cape Town.
After knocking out the league favourites, Leinster, in the semi-finals thanks to a sensational drop goal from Jack Crowley, Rowntree's charges followed that up with a dominant (albeit not on the scoreboard) victory over the defending champions in the final.
It would be Munster's first piece of silverware in 12 years. However, the return to winning ways for an Irish province outside of Leinster is not the only reason that Munster's win was good for Ireland's hopes in France later this year.
A week earlier, Leinster were left heartbroken at home having lost a second Champions Cup final in a row to La Rochelle, in the dying minutes of the match.
This Leinster team was made up of at least 11 of Andy Farrell's likely starting team for the World Cup, meaning that the psychological hit of losing another final to French opposition could have weighed heavy heading into the World Cup.
Munster's win vital ahead of the World Cup
However, with Munster being able to go to South Africa and beat a team with many World Cup winning Springboks in it, they will give Andy Farrell's squad a much-needed moral boost.
Speaking on Off The Ball, O'Driscoll explained why this was the case.
"What I will say about this victory is I think it will be really important for our national team going into the World Cup," O'Driscoll said.
"The deflation coming off the back of the Leinster defeat to big French opposition, having South Africa in our pool and Munster going down to South Africa and playing against a number of those internationals and sticking it to them, I think is a big plus.
"Them bringing positivity coming [into the Ireland camp], and supplementing the quality play that we have seen from Leinster.
"Then you've got a different coaching ticket to boost all of that as well. I do feel as though it was an important for strength of mentality going forward, of not letting guys feel too sorry for themselves.
"We've got a team that are able to do it against the odds, away from home. Just when you think maybe there's a bit of uncertainty around their performance against certain sides, they are able to stick it to the Stormers."
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