Craig Casey: Scrum half hails 'love of the club' as Munster end 'turbulent' season in URC play-offs

The Irish side secured their place in the quarter-finals, following Casey's heroic Player of the Match performance in the dramatic 24-17 victory over the Lions at Thomond Park.

The win ensured Munster secured a fifth-placed finish finish on the final weekend of the regular season, after briefly dropping down to ninth following Connacht's win over Edinburgh on Friday night. This also guarantees Champions Cup rugby for next season after an emotionally charged and difficult campaign.

With injuries mounting and the pressure at its highest, Casey delivered one of his standout performances in a Munster shirt, scoring a crucial try and leading from the front against the Johannesburg side.

“It means an awful lot. It’s been a turbulent enough season for us, but we've stayed strong as a group,” said Casey after the final whistle in Limerick.

“I think the love of the club shone through today. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs through the week, a few people going out through injury and a few young fellas stepping in.

“I think it was important for us to send off a few legends in a good way. We would have done them an injustice if we didn’t show up. We are a resilient group. We have been through the ringer this year. We went through an awful lot, but stuck together and it shows in times like this.”

The victory was made even more impressive by the adversity Munster faced during the contest. At one stage they were reduced to 13 men, yet still found a way to hold off a powerful Lions side desperate for a result of their own. Despite the chaos, Casey insisted the squad never lost belief.

“We haven’t been perfect this season, we’ve a lot to work on, but we’ve given ourselves a chance,” he said.

“We have been through a tough time. This is massive for us. Champions Cup rugby is paramount for this club. Damn it feels good.”

The scrum-half also admitted the occasion carried huge personal significance, with the match marking his first time captaining Munster at Thomond Park, with Tadhg Beirne side-lined with a knee injury.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself this week,” Casey admitted. “It was my first time captaining at home, but I had a lot of support from the group. First and foremost, you’ve got to show up. I wasn’t perfect by any means, but I hope the fans saw how much it means to all of us.

“That’s what kind of shines through on days like this. The supporters mean an awful lot to us. We’ve given ourselves a chance and we’ve given them a chance.”

Casey also made sure to acknowledge the backing Munster received from the Thomond Park crowd throughout the season. “Keep following us, we love you all. We will keep fighting for all of you.”

Munster now head to Pretoria to face the Bulls in the quarter-finals, with belief growing that their season may still have another chapter left to write. Munster prevailed down in South Africa for their unexpected run to URC glory back in 2023, after also finishing fifth at the end of the regular season.