CJ Stander believes Munster "need" a final victory after getting past Leinster to face the Stormers in Saturday's decider.
The Reds' former no 8 spent as many years with the province, joining the year after their last trophy was won in 2011.
Speaking on a media call for the BKT United Rugby Championship from his home in South Africa, Stander was looking forward to seeing how it all shakes out at the Cape Town Stadium in the Grand Final.
READ MORE: Munster have big guns primed for URC Grand Final as 30-man travelling squad named
“Munster need this," he stressed. "Not just for the team, but in general, for Cork, Limerick, the Munster province in general.
“Just to get that belief back that all that hard work over the last eight or nine years hasn’t been for nothing."
Still only 33, Stander called time on his career at the end of the 2020-21 season and, despite setting up back home, he insists he has no mixed emotions over the outcome of this one.
“I don’t miss the game but I do miss these weekends because the craic afterwards, the few beers, and all the hard work in the years of disappointment, you’re going to sit there and hopefully win the final and celebrate with your mates. That’s the part I miss," he said.
“But it’s still going to be a tough game. Watching the Connacht game, the Stormers know the way they want to play. They play from anywhere and they are very good at it.
“They scored two tries when it looked like nothing was on, so Munster need to be ready for that from the start.
“But no mixed emotions - just immensely proud to be in a final and having a great chance to win it.”
Stander is relieved to see some of Munster's biggest names included in the 30-strong squad that is heading to Cape Town today.
Conor Murray, RG Snyman, Calvin Nash and Malakai Fekitoa have completed return to play protocols after missing the semi-final victory over Leinster.
Also due to be available are Ben Healy, who started at no 10 in that win at the Aviva Stadium just over a week ago, and Jean Kleyn - with both players due to complete return to play protocols this week, they have both made the plane.
“When I saw that list of players getting on to the plane, it was good to see, especially guys like Conor Murray, RG and Malakai," Stander said.
“It brings a boost to the squad. You see the energy that Munster have got in the last few weeks from beating the Stormers in Cape Town and then going to Dublin and beating Leinster.
“It’s going to be a cracking final, I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a bit wet and then Munster will have the upper-hand, but we’ll see."
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