AS a man who learned the values of Munster from Anthony Foley, it comes as no surprise to Newport Gwent Dragons wing Pat Howard that they will be coming up against a side galvanised by passing of the legendary number eight and coach.

The Dragons return to Guinness PRO12 action tomorrow when they attempt to cause a huge upset by toppling the league leaders in Cork (kick-off 7.35pm).

The Rodney Parade side haven’t won on their travels all season and have triumphed just once in Munster, in 2004.

The men in red, meanwhile, have won 12 of 13 games to sit proudly atop the PRO12 and earn a home Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse.

It all comes after the untimely passing of Munster legend Foley at the age of 42 on the eve of their game against Racing 92 in Paris last October.

Howard lived in Limerick for three months after being brought to the Irish province on a short-term deal by the double Heineken Cup winner in 2014/15.

“This season they have come to life with the best defence in the league, they are just getting everything right,” said the South African.

“Whether it was galvanised by Anthony Foley I don’t know, but they have been on fire and are a fantastic side that are very well coached. They are a great side and have a very good pedigree.

“It was a horrible tragedy and it seems to have galvanised everyone and brought them together, including Ireland when they beat New Zealand.

“He was a great, great man, a great coach and a great Munsterman. He had a great sense of humour and, even though I was more involved with the backs coach Brian Walsh, he was a great guy to be around.”

Howard is set for a return to the fray after sitting out the Anglo-Welsh Cup defeats to Newcastle and Gloucester with a slight shoulder niggle.

The 24-year-old knows that while Munster will be without a raft of Ireland internationals, they will still be well-drilled at Irish Independent Park.

“They defend well and have a very clear structure – maul, hit a target, use the forwards and they kick a lot off nine. They stick to that and execute very well,” he said.

“There’s nothing too elaborate, although every now and then they try a few things with someone like Simon Zebo, who is a bit of a maverick, but they are efficient and do the basics right.

“They are not a massive side and physically they are not the most formidable, but they just do everything right.”

Munster may be ruthlessly efficient but they did have to scramble to take the spoils 20-16 when the sides met in Newport in September.

The Dragons came up short after failing with a last-gasp driving lineout but Howard says that gives them the belief that they can upset the odds in Cork.

“It’s on the day and when they came down here everyone would have said we were underdogs and we were one decision away from beating them,” he said.

“Whether it was us doing something wrong or them doing something right, (coming close) means we have the ability and it’s possible to beat them. We are not going there expecting to lose and we will give it a full go.

“The game can go either way and it’s nice to play against a team like this who really tests you. We play professional sport for these challenges, you wouldn’t do it if it was easy.”