Munster now in last-chance saloon

At least we know with certainty there will be some Irish presence in the quarter-finals of this season’s Heineken Cup.

With Ulster having secured safe passage with victory over Glasgow on Friday night, delivering a tactical masterclass in atrocious conditions.

For Munster and Leinster, qualification goes down to the wire next weekend with the possibility that one could go through at the expense of the other. With Clermont Auvergne already qualified in Leinster’s pool, the best the holders can hope for is one of the two best runner-up slots. On the presumption that Saracens top Pool 1 with a win over Edinburgh on Sunday, Munster will be in direct competition with their great rivals for one of those precious two slots.