Most of Munster’s strength and conditioning work is done in pre-season so the work most of their players are doing now would be described as fine-tuning.
Judging by the latest insight into Munster’s training routines, this is serious fine-tuning.
Aled Walters, Munster’s Head of Fitness, and his staff were tasked with keeping the senior squad in the best shape possible over a period of 13 hugely important matches in 14 weeks. That period concludes with Saturday’s Champions Cup game with Racing 92. He says:
“It’s the coaches that have a massive role in how fit we are going into games mainly because, after the games, the main fitness [work] of the week is going to be training.
“It is nice that our data, with GPS information, shows that we spend a very high proportion of our training at at least match pace. We are training at an intensity that is above match pace.”
Once the on-pitch work is done, it is time for the gym work. CJ Stander is certainly not letting up…
“The fitness alone won’t win you matches but, at the same time, not being fit enough could cost you matches or cost you a title at the end of the season,” says Walters.
Munster are flying now but they are fully aware that the hard work is a long, long way from over.
