Munster need Earls and de Villiers to click

WITH just over a week to go to season-defining quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for Munster and Leinster, one could surmise Friday’s eagerly-awaited Magners League clash will resonate more with supporters than the players.

Wed, 31 Mar, 2010 - 01:00

Donal Lenihan

A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.

That would be a mistake.

The publicans and hotels aren’t the only one eagerly awaiting the arrival of the visitors from Leinster to Limerick. The Munster players have been on the receiving end in the two most recent encounters with that soul-destroying Heineken Cup semi-final defeat in front of a world record club rugby match crowd of 82,208 in Croke Park, something that will stay with them forever. Even now, 10 months on, that defeat seemed far more comprehensive than even the 25-6 scoreline suggests.