Donal Lenihan: Cash-rich Leinster power on as Munster count cost of front row inadequacies

The Munster scrum has been an accident waiting to happen for some time, dating back to when John Ryan was deemed surplus to requirements two seasons ago

POWER: Munster's RG Snyman gets a helping hand from Peter O'Mahony in their Heineken Champions Cup, round of 16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

This is the stage of the season when champion teams ramp up the pressure and intensity of their game in the knowledge that knockout rugby offers no second chance.

The aim to now was about putting yourself in the qualifying slots, home advantage an added bonus. In his time at Wasps, Warren Gatland was brilliant at timing his run. Make the top four in the league while pacing yourself and factoring in decent rest periods during the regular campaign.