Munster boss Graham Rowntree hailed Alex Nankivell's performance against Connacht and believes his squad are in a really good place coming down the final stretch of the URC season.

Kiwi centre Nankivell, who moved to Ireland from the Chiefs last summer, was the tournament’s player of the weekend.

The 27-year-old scored Munster’s third try in the 42-17 win, made 121 metres from 14 carries and had nine gainline successes.

He also chipped in with a try-saving tackle on Shamus Hurley-Langton when the game was in the mix.

"Nanks in particular, I thought. That [tackle] was outstanding," said head coach Rowntree after the game.

"He's been good for us. We left him out against Lions for good reason. We had a good look at Sean O'Brien in that game.

"He's a tough character, he's good around the group. 'Cranks’, ‘Cranky’, we call him.

"Physicality is his specialty. He was good tonight without being perfect.

"I am [pleased with where we are], I am but as boring and pragmatic as an old prop forward can be, we'll take it week by week and we’ll see where we end up on the first of June.

"Our defence is up there with one of the best in the league, for a reason.

"We’ve got a great coach [Denis Leamy] and the lads all believe in him, they all row in behind him.

"There’s always improvements.

"We’re coming up against teams now who want to attack against us – particularly watching them in the warm-up, they were trying to take us on our short side a lot – so there’s always work-ons."

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after picking up his player of the match award, the New Zealander said: "It was unreal. It was good to see some sun in Limerick.

"It’s probably the best day I’ve had since I’ve been here.

"It’s amazing to have a crowd like this turn out every week to watch us play. It was a great day for us.

"That’s our seventh win on the trot. I feel like we are just building confidence and momentum going into the business end of the season. The boys are happy."

Nankivell, who has made 12 starts at inside centre and three, including against Connacht, at 13, added: "I am loving it here at Munster. It’s some place.

"The people are amazing. They just make you feel really welcome. It’s home away from home for me.

"It feels like I’ve been here for a long time even though I’ve only been here for a few months."

Jack O'Donoghue was one of Munster's stand-out players

Running Nankivell close for man of the match was number 8 Jack O’Donoghue and he was full of praise for attack coach Mike Prendergast.

Munster, third in the table, two points behind leaders Glasgow, had seven different try-scorers in the game.

"Yeah, there’s a lot hunger to get on the ball," he said.

"People were working hard to get into position to offer themselves up as an option and I think that’s what allowed us to play a good brand of rugby.

"The first 20 minutes, things didn’t go our way...but we didn’t panic, we knew we’d get another opportunity. We had composure to absorb their pressure and transfer it back onto them."

The win was Munster’s seventh in a row in the league and the 30-year-old added: "We can play a good brand of rugby and score tries and match that in with the defence and we’ll have a few fixes there.

"But certainly once your attack is humming and looking to score tries and your defence is knocking them back you’re happy at the end of the day."

Conor Murray grabbed the bonus-point try but the score belonged to Simon Zebo, who weaved his way through the Connacht defence before popping to the scrum-half.

The 34-year-old also made a try-saving tackle when Jarrad Butler threatened.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Rowntree hinted that this season could be the former Ireland winger’s last with the club.

"We’ll see," said the 53-year-old when asked about the Cork man's future.

"Nothing lasts forever. He is in a rich vein of form.

"We have some healthy competition and young men coming through in that position. We’ll see."

Watch highlights of all the weekend's action on Against the Head, 8pm, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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