Next five fixtures: Stormers (H), Bath (A, Champions Cup), Gloucester (H, Champions Cup), Ospreys (A), Leinster (H)
The international break came at a bad time for Clayton McMillan.
Having started his reign with five wins – highlighted by an impressive dismantling of Leinster at Croke Park – the New Zealander must now ensure his side’s early-season momentum has not been disrupted by the Test window.
Across five URC wins and a victory over Argentina XV, McMillan has used 47 players, and his hand has been strengthened this week, with Thaakir Abrahams, Diarmuid Barron, Conor Bartley, Mike Haley, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen and Niall Scannell all returning to training.
Highly-rated second row Edwin Edogbo is also nearing a return from a head injury, while former Leinster prop Michael Ala’alatoa will join from Clermont in December until the end of the season.
Munster will aim to make it six from six when they host pacesetters Stormers at Thomond Park in a top-two encounter on Saturday (17:30 GMT) before beginning their Champions Cup campaign away to Bath on 6 December.
While the Stormers will be without their South Africa internationals – including Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – a win against a side who already have a points difference of +118 would be another eye-catching statement of intent from Munster.
