Munster had an up-and-down season, at one point being fourteenth in the table after losing five of their seven opening rounds of the season, but a strong finish to the season, including an away win against the
Stormers and an away draw against the
Sharks, saw Munster qualify for the knockout stage of the competition and finish fifth overall. The province's burst of late-season away form continued into the play-offs, as they defeated
Glasgow Warriors 14–5 away from home in the quarter-finals, before defeating
Leinster 16–15, also away from home, in the semi-finals. The Stormers, the defending champions after they won the first
United Rugby Championship in
2021–22, by contrast enjoyed a strong season, finishing third overall and defeating South African rivals the
Bulls 33–21 in their quarter-final and
Connacht 43–25 in the semi-finals to advance to a home final for a second season in a row. ==Pre-match==