Gaffney has full panel to consider
Gaffney will name the side at Musgrave Park at lunch time today.
Team spokesman Pat Geraghty said last night that he anticipated no problems for Gaffney, other than having to pick his best available 15.
“There were plenty of bumps and bruises after the Celtic League win over Neath at The Gnoll last Saturday night, but nothing too serious, and Alan will have a full squad from which to pick the team against Gloucester,” Geraghty said.
Munster have made it to two of the last three Heineken Cup finals, but Gaffney knows they could not have been presented with a tougher first hurdle this time, away to red hot Zurich Premiership table-topping Gloucester at Kingsholm in front of the BBC Grandstand cameras.
“We are in an exceptionally hard pool,” the coach admitted.
“Gloucester and Perpignan are both very strong but we will travel to Gloucester this weekend full of confidence after our Celtic League win at Neath.
“We know it is going to be very difficult at Kingsholm, but this Munster side is renowned for its fighting spirit and courage. We are very upbeat and the players have consigned last year’s defeat in the final to history.
“This is a new start and a new challenge. It will be business as usual for Munster in the Heineken Cup. There have been a few minor tweaks, but there will be no great deviation from what Declan Kidney and Niall O’Donovan have done so well over the past few years.”
For their part, the Leinster Lions launch their challenge against newcomers Bristol Shoguns under the Donnybrook floodlights on Friday night, believing this could be their season to fly the flag for Ireland.
“I always felt this would be Leinster’s year in the Heineken Cup,” coach Matt Williams said.
“But with all the disruption we have experienced through the Irish World Cup qualifying matches, we will need the rub of the green. What gives me great heart is that in the two Celtic League games to date in which we have been able to field our full side, we have won with a bonus point,” Williams said.
“Having a home game to start with is a huge bonus, because it means we will have more time together without having to travel. If we can get through these first two games, then we will be on our way. There is great belief among the Leinster players and it is a very good side,” he said.
As far as Ulster go, coach Alan Solomons reckons that his side are in possibly the toughest pool, and his case has not been helped by the fact that Ryan Constable has been ruled out of Ulster’s opening two games after being concussed in the Celtic League game against Caerphilly.
“The Northampton Saints are a hell of a powerful side, Cardiff have a great tradition and Biarritz are the French champions. In this tournament, you have got to win your home games and look to pick up one or two wins away from home. It is going to be very, very tight. This is a great competition and I think it has the ability to outstrip the Super 12,” Solomons said.
“I would like to see a few changes, four pools of six rather than six pools of four, all the matches played in a block, and the ability to sign players during the tournament, but it really is a fantastic tournament. I don’t think
Leicester Tigers will win it again this season and, of all the English sides, I fancy Gloucester. Leinster and Munster have got real quality players and teams, and in France, look out for Montferrand.”
Martin Johnson, the Leicester Tigers captain who has led his side to historic successive Heineken Cup finals triumphs, sets off in pursuit of the treble, warning it will be even tougher this time around en route to the final in Dublin on May 24, 2003.
The eighth season of the jewel in European club rugby’s crown kicks off on Friday night with the champions travelling to Neath for a testing opener as the 24 teams from six nations set off in hope of joining Toulouse, Brive, Bath, Ulster, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers on the roll of honour.
“Winning back-to-back Heineken Cup finals was a great achievement and we know that a hat trick of titles would be even tougher,” said the double Lions skipper.
“We are really looking forward to opening our defence of the title at Neath on Friday night and our other Pool 1 matches against Beziers and Amatori & Calvisano.
“There are no easy games in the Heineken Cup.
“People are also reminding us that we have lost both our previous Heineken Cup Pool matches in Wales, at Pontypridd and Llanelli, so we need to start putting that record straight.
“Time has flown since we beat Munster, but the Heineken Cup gives such a buzz to players and supporters that I am really looking forward to the new tournament.”
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