Munster must make it hell for Saints

NO OTHER rugby tournament worldwide can match the drama and excitement of round six of the Heineken Cup. After five intense rounds of competition – encompassing 60 games – only two teams, Biarritz and Toulouse, have officially qualified for the quarter-finals.

In total, 16 teams still harbour mathematical ambitions of qualification for either the Heineken Cup or a back door entrance to the Amlin Challenge Cup in April. That is what differentiates European club fare from everything else.

As things stand, Munster and Leinster enjoy privileged status as number one and two seeds respectively going into this weekend’s action. Bonus point wins for both would cement those positions, giving them 25 points with the top seeding then to be decided firstly on total tries scored (19-18 in Munster’s favour at present) or points differential. Leinster currently shade that on +94 to Munster’s +88.