Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has welcomed the province's review into its governance and structures as the fallout from the Roger Randle saga continues.
The province confirmed earlier today that it has commissioned an independent review, which it says will "assess the organisation’s governance, leadership, culture and communications structures and to provide recommendations back to the Board".
The review has come in response to a difficult two-month period for Munster Rugby, who are facing staff redundancies, while they also made a high-profile U-turn around the appointment of Randle as attack coach.
Last Thursday, McMillan said "changes" would be needed in order to give him confidence in his own position as head coach.
Munster Rugby has commissioned an independent review into the organisation's governance structures, as the fallout from the Roger Randle saga continues #RTERugby #RTESport pic.twitter.com/r6uPJ7gAlX
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 12, 2026
This afternoon, the New Zealander was asked to expand on what those changes should be, although he declined to go into any detail.
"I think I articulated that last week," he told RTÉ Sport.
"There's a lot that we need to digest as an organisation, and I welcome any review that's going to ultimately help us be better.
"I hope that that's what the independent review will give us direction around, what independent people think we need to do to get better."
On the pitch, the province face a season-defining week as they host the Lions on Saturday evening at Thomond Park.
Depending on results elsewhere, Munster may need to beat the in-form South Africans in order to guarantee a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification.
Second row Edwin Edogbo is a doubt after picking up a shoulder injury in Saturday's 26-7 defeat to Connacht, with wing Shane Daly also being a fitness concern and hooker Lee Barron ruled out.
However, the head coach is hopeful that out-half Jack Crowley will be available to return after missing the last two games with a leg injury.
"Jack Crowley's trained fully the last couple of days, so he's looking positive, given the nature of his injury where it's sort of been intermittent," McMillan added.
"I never count chickens before they hatch, but it's all looking very positive.
"He's about the only one, I think, that's been on the long-term injury list that would be a realistic option for this weekend."
The Munster boss also confirmed the province would be contesting the red card shown to Diarmuid Barron in Saturday’s defeat.
The hooker was shown a yellow card, later upgraded to a 20-minute red, in the first half of their defeat at Dexcom Stadium, for an illegal clearout on his opposite number Dylan Tierney-Martin.
The Kiwi said: "We're hoping for the best but preparing for the worst in terms of his availability.
"But he's fit and ready to go if we get the green light, which we intend to contest the decision."
Heading into the final round, Munster are one of five teams chasing the four remaining play-off spots, with Saturday’s opponents, the Lions, also jockeying for position.
Seventh place in the table will also guarantee their qualification for the Investec Champions Cup next season. An eighth-place finish would only suffice if Ulster go on to lose the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier next week.
"Last weekend wasn't a great performance and we need to be significantly better against a Lions team who will be equally desperate to put in a performance," the McMillan (below) said.
"I know it sounds cliche, but if we get distracted by anything other than what we need to do to bring that performance to fruition, then we'll get caught with our pants down.
"I know what the team is capable of when we put our best foot forward, but there's a fine line between that and then having a performance that you're very unhappy about.
"We knew what the stakes were on the weekend [against Connacht] and unfortunately, I just think that their desire was stronger than ours. They had more to lose and as a result, they brought more energy and now we find ourselves in the exact same position.
"Performances like last week don't do a hell of a lot to inspire and make people feel better and that weighs heavier on us than any noise from the outside.
"But the beauty about rugby is that you just about always get another week and this week it's the Lions and there's an opportunity to be a hell of a lot better and given the stakes, we know we need to be."
With play-off rivals Connacht, Ulster and Cardiff all in action on Friday night, Munster could be assured of their spot before a ball is even kicked at Thomond Park on Saturday. At the very least, they will know exactly what result is needed to qualify.
And McMillan said he’s yet to decide whether or not he’ll sit down and watch those Friday games.
"Yet to be decided," he said, with a smirk.
"I don't mind. I like watching rugby, but when there's high stakes that can have an impact on your own team, you're probably not the best person to be sitting around.
"So, I may be watching it, but I think the family will kick me into a room by myself. We’ll see."
Follow our live blog on Ireland v Scotland in the Guinness Women's Six Nations on Sunday from 2.30pm and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch Wales v Italy (12.15pm) and France v England (4.45pm) on RTÉ Player
