With Munster’s higher ranking from the pool stage — Leinster finished fourth as a consequence of the Montpellier cancellation — Johann van Graan’s men would have home advantage in that potential encounter

At a time when the relaxation of Covid restrictions in this country reacquainted everyone with the feeling of freedom, the enforced cancellation of three key Heineken Champions Cup games over the weekend has inflicted another damaging blow to the integrity of the competition

There’s a strong possibility Munster will appoint a Director of Rugby to head up the management team and, if so, Declan Kidney should be given first refusal at filling that role. Highly rated Racing 92 attack coach Mike Prendergast appears nailed on to join Graham Rowntree on the coaching ticket

The financial impact of this pandemic on professional rugby is set to last long after medical science renders the virus ineffective. A critical point has been reached.

Munster seem locked in a time warp. If they continue in the vein of the last two limp attacking efforts, then you can forget about any prospect of breaking the trophy drought for another season

The province should test Scott Robertson's stated ambition to coach in Europe. Meanwhile, at club level, the grassroots is growing increasingly frustrated

Once the flagship event for rugby followers in this country, the Champions Cup appears to be fading in the consciousness of a growing number of competing clubs

It was the experienced aces like de Allende, Farrell and the normally flawless Earls who will have reason to look back on their skill execution with disappointment

Scott Buckley wouldn’t have made anything like the impact he did without his exposure to the AIL. Yet key personnel in the IRFU’s rugby department continue to look down their noses at this level of rugby

With a total of 12 players set to make their first ever appearance in a senior shirt the challenge facing Munster had reached epic proportions