Time for another Munster rugby miracle

WITH home games against Munster and Saracens to come, Clermont Auvergne have grabbed Pool 1 by the throat and are firmly in control of their destiny, writes Donal Lenihan.

With just one away game remaining on their schedule — against Sale in round five — at this stage they appear certain to advance to the first ever knockout phase of the Champions Cup.

The big question now is whether a second side can progress from that pool and, if so, will it be Munster or Saracens? With two home games on the trot for Saracens against Sale next Saturday and Munster in January, Mark McCall’s men look better placed. Munster need to get something out of their trip to France next weekend, while it would also help their cause no end if Sale managed to turn Saracens over, even if that appears unlikely.