French foes are scintillating, yet suspect

FOUR days on and the sense of excitement and anticipation that filled the masses at Thomond Park is every bit as palpable.

Everybody is talking about last weekend and not only the Munster game. Leinster set the tone Friday night by somehow hanging on to a slim one-point lead to come out on top against a marvellous but vulnerable Clermont Auvergne side.

Leinster were lucky to survive Brock James’s brain freeze in the final minutes but that misses the point somewhat. Leinster are a champion side for a reason.