Toulon 23 Saracens 6

Munster’s proud history and record of achievement in Europe demanded they be afforded a fighting chance coming into this monumental Heineken Cup semi-final challenge but, in truth, they were always going to be hard pressed to come out on top.

There’s two things you must consider after this game: Munster could have won the Heineken Cup this year, but to win a European Champions Cup next season, they will have to invest wisely.

It was Rob Penney’s last European Cup link with Munster and he was, naturally, hugely disappointed after the semi-final defeat by champions Toulon.

Toulon 24 Munster 16

For three seasons this Munster squad have lived in the shadow of past glories. A win tomorrow would cement their place in the storied history of the province. They need to buy into that possibility, says Donal Lenihan, as he identifies three areas where Rob Penney’s men must excel

He may come to regret it on Sunday but BJ Botha has played a fairly significant role in developing Toulon’s Craig Burden into a top-class hooker.

Having already lost inspirational captain Peter O’Mahony for the business end of the season, Rob Penney will be mindful of making sure his key personnel are fresh and raring to go when Munster set out to upset the odds once again by toppling Heineken Cup champions Toulon in Marseille on Sunday week.

Alan Good rates the Leinster men in their latest performance.

The Heineken Cup as we know it has just seven games to run. When it is consigned to history at the end of the season in favour of its successor, the proposed new European Champions Cup, we will look back with fond memories on the last 19 seasons of memorable European action and the joy the tournament brought for rugby supporters across the competing nations.

Wealthy French club Toulon have signed South Africa star Bryan Habana on a three-year deal.

Saracens boss Mark McCall has targeted an across-the-board improvement from his team in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Munster.

Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek has backed rookie Ulster tighthead Declan Fitzpatrick to step up for Ireland against the All Blacks on Saturday should first-choice Mike Ross fail to recover from a hamstring injury.

Georgia coach Richie Dixon anticipates a war of attrition against England on Sunday – and he has reinforced his pack ready for a battle royale under the Otago Stadium roof.

ALL BLACK legend Sean Fitzpatrick has defended the Irish provinces’ right to sign Kiwi talent in the face of stinging criticism from New Zealand rugby’s top official, but has questioned whether such a policy is in the best interests of the game here.

Victory for Leinster tomorrow could catapult them to a second Heineken Cup success, believes Donal Lenihan. The outlook is not so promising for Ulster however. Munster? The future starts here.

NEW ZEALAND rugby chiefs have poured scorn on reports linking Carl Hayman with a return to the All Blacks jersey for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Q: Was it simply an ageing team growing old together?

IT had to end some time, of course.

1. Game Management

TOULON fly-half Jonny Wilkinson believes Munster will be facing an entire region when then kick off at Stade Felix-Mayol tomorrow.

THE stars could well be aligning for another great Munster away day in France.

Toulon coach Phillipe Saint Andre has selected Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi at fly half and inside centre respectively for Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster at the Stade Félix Mayol, kick-off 4pm.

Paul O’Connell will start for Munster in Sunday’s crunch Heineken Cup game against Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol (kick-off 4pm).

TOULON welcome back Carl Hayman to their extended squad for Sunday’s crunch match with Munster but lost Jocelino Suta after the lock was handed a 20-day suspension.

FOUR defeats in 17 competitive outings across the Magners League and Heineken Cup hardly constitutes a crisis, but such is the competitive edge and expectation set by those within and on the periphery of Munster rugby that in times like this it feels like one.

PHILIPPE Saint-Andre believes his Toulon side are under no pressure going into this Sunday’s crucial Heineken Cup clash with Munster.

JONNY WILKINSON lost a battle of the drop kicks as Toulon were beaten in Paris last night but Munster were put on warning ahead of their Heineken Cup showdown in the south of France next Sunday.

Newcastle Falcons have confirmed the signing of Scotland prop Euan Murray on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

THE last few weeks on the road across the rugby homes of Europe has been challenging to say the least.

Only two points separate all four teams in Pool Three ahead of tomorrow’s games between London Irish and Toulon at the Madejski Stadium and Munster’s Thomond Park appointment with the Ospreys.

TONY MCGAHAN made a conscious decision this week not to dwell on the opposition, instead focusing on getting Munster right for today’s must-win Heineken Cup clash against Toulon at Thomond Park (3.30pm).

Munster’s old foe Felipe Contepomi will start at fly-half for Toulon in the Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park on Saturday.

TOULON’S England international fly half Jonny Wilkinson has been included by coach Philippe Saint André in a group of 23 players to travel to Limerick for Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with Munster.

AS the London Irish players embarked on a celebratory lap of honour at the magnificent Madejski stadium on Saturday, my mind drifted to a similar moment of exuberance exactly 12 months earlier.

“ALL or nothing” – that’s how Toulon and England star Jonny Wilkinson is viewing Saturday’s showdown at Thomond Park with Munster after helping his side to a Heineken Cup opening round win against the Ospreys.

Swashbuckling captain Joe Van Niekerk tells Ian Moriarty that the French side are determined to put their best foot forward for the Heineken Cup.

FORMER Munster and Ireland U19 prop Tim Ryan has quit big-spending French club Toulon a year early to try to carve out a first-team place at Newcastle Falcons.

Newcastle have bolstered their front-row options by signing prop Tim Ryan from Toulon on a one-year deal.

IRELAND flanker Alan Quinlan and fellow Munster players Jean de Villiers, Paul Warwick and Doug Howlett have been included in the Barbarians squad for this summer’s tour.

Munster players Doug Howlett, Alan Quinlan, Jean de Villiers and Paul Warwick have been included in the Barbarians squad for this summer’s tour.

MUNSTER’S Doug Howlett is believed to be one of three overseas New Zealand players on the radar of the All Black selectors when planning for their 2011 World Cup begins after this year’s Tri Nations.

Adam Jones was told by Phil Vickery to “make sure you stuff him” after being picked to face ’The Beast’ in Saturday’s second Test against South Africa.

FOUR years have whizzed by since Jono Gibbes enjoyed his moment of glory against the British and Irish Lions. The Leinster forwards coach was captain of the New Zealand Maori for the third game of that ill-fated tour and, with nine All Blacks in the first XV and three more on the bench, it was billed as an unofficial fourth test.