Donal Lenihan: As Munster labour, the Big Blue powers its way to Europe’s No 1

It’s a bit early to be talking about defining games of the season, but it was difficult to avoid that assertion ahead of Munster’s Champions Cup encounter against Saracens on Saturday. It was hard to ignore the reality staring you in the face at Thomond Park that, having already drawn their opening home game against Racing 92, Munster had to win this one.

That tends to focus the mind. Team captain Peter O’Mahony said as much earlier in the week when admitting the fear factor of losing this game and the subsequent impact it could have on their chances of reaching the quarter-final stage was a constant in the players’ minds.