THE MESSAGE has been slowly but surely percolating from sections of the media, rugby supporters and even, whisper it, some whose passion for the game and belief in the team has heretofore been unquestioned.

LEINSTER played the game to a standard any team would have been proud of while Munster produced their most shambolic performance since the bad old amateur days, resulting in an inevitable outcome at a packed RDS on Saturday night.

JOHN HAYES and Alan Quinlan are both included in a 25-strong squad from which the Munster team to take on Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Friday (7.05, Setanta Sports) will be finalised tomorrow.