THAT was a game Munster will be glad to have put behind them. Johann van Graan’s side will attack with relish preparations for this Saturday’s visit of Gloucester, after returning home from a daunting, Heineken Champions Cup pool opener, at Exeter Chiefs, with a lot more than expected.

Johann van Graan’s bid to get his first full European campaign off to a winning start could not have come in more difficult circumstances, yet the Munster head coach has learned enough in his short time in charge to expect the unexpected on Heineken Champions Cup away days.

When the RFU eventually begins their search to find a replacement for Eddie Jones, there is no need for them to scour the globe.

Jean Kleyn is adamant Munster can hit the ground running in Europe when they open the new Heineken Champions Cup campaign at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Peter Jackson analyses the good and bad from the Champions Cup...

Exeter’s Champions Cup engagement with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday is unlikely to be the time to stop and smell the roses.

Time and again, Leo Cullen has teed up a Champions League tie as a meeting of opposites.

Exeter Chiefs were a run-of-the-mill second-tier English side when Gareth Steenson arrived in 2008 and the Irish fly-half believes Leinster’s visit to Sandy Park will be the ultimate barometer of just how far the club has come since.

Exeter Chiefs may be the reigning Aviva Premiership champions but when it comes to Europe they are still looking to make their mark.

Ulster finished their disappointing European Champions Cup season in downbeat fashion as Bordeaux-Begles secured a hard-earned but deserved 26-22 victory at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ronan O’Gara gives his expert opinion on the five pools for the European Champions Cup.

Amidst the mountain of names mentioned yesterday as possible replacements for Matt O’Connor’s Leinster job, it was that of Robbie Deans that emerged on top with the New Zealander’s tumbling odds squaring with earlier smoke signals from sources.

Wing, centre, full back? Keith Earls is now well used to the challenging question as to what his favourite position is, and his answer is somewhat different to what it might have been a few years ago.

European Rugby Challenge Cup

Fiji international Sireli Naqelevuki has agreed a new contract with Aviva Premiership club Exeter.

Logic and mathematics continue to suggest that Leinster will fall short in their attempt to escape the confines of the pool stages this weekend but a scan of Joe Schmidt’s team yesterday was enough to give pause.

All they can do now is wait for 6pm.

Sean O’Brien could be excused for being frustrated with rugby right now.

NOW it gets complicated.

Exeter 30 Scarlets 20

James Downey has no doubt about the size of Munster’s challenge when Heineken Cup rivals Saracens attempt to storm their Thomond Park fortress tomorrow.

Leinster 9 Exeter Chiefs 6

Leinster 9 Exeter Chiefs 6

Leinster may be the focus of our thoughts here but it is worth pausing for a brief moment to take stock of just how far their opponents today have come in such a short space of time.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter wants his players to enjoy the experience when they make a high-profile Heineken Cup debut tomorrow against European rugby’s current standard-bearers.

Tom Hayes is 32 now and, on the law of averages, the chance of following his brother John into the family’s ranks of capped international rugby players is probably beyond him.

Heineken Cup champions Leinster will earn another big pay day when they play French rivals Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium.

Centre Ian Whitten will part ways with his Ulster teammates at the end of this season having signed a two year deal with Aviva Premiership outfit Exeter Chiefs.

EXETER CHIEFS head coach Rob Baxter admits he’s surprised his captain Tom Hayes hasn’t been capped by Ireland and revealed the Limerick man could be called up by England boss Martin Johnson.