Munster no to Lansdowne
It is understood that IRFU chiefs have already discussed the possibility of a bumper E1 million pay-day which would accrue if Munster agreed to play the game at Lansdowne Road in April.
But Munster coach Alan Gaffney insisted last night: “I don’t see that as a possibility. We owe it to our supporters who have followed us all everywhere to play the game at Thomond Park. They have had to put up with four away semi-finals and this is our first home quarter-final since 2001. There’s not a chance we will move as far as I am concerned.”
Another Munster official said: But Munster coach Alan Gaffney insisted last night: “I don’t see that as a possibility. We owe it to our supporters who have followed us all
everywhere to play the game at Thomond Park. They have had to put up with four away semi-finals and this is our first home quarter-final since 2001. There’s not a chance we will move as far as I am concerned.”
Another Munster official said “There is no way we will go to Dublin unless we are forced to. Nothing has been discussed and it would surely be false economy in any event because, by moving grounds, we might not make it to the next stage.”
However, the IRFU foot the bill for Ireland’s professionally contracted players and Munster are the only remaining side capable of generating substantial revenues from Europe’s top club competition.
Indications are that if Munster insist on remaining at Thomond Park, they will be entitled to 50% of a 14,000 gate - the incentive for moving to Lansdowne Road would be 65% of a potential 48,000 sell-out, a possible difference of over E500,000.
Though visiting demand would have been greater from Gloucester than Stade Francais, Munster’s massive support wouldill probably ensure a Lansdowne Road sell-out anyway.
Under ERC regulations, Munster do not have to move. “In the same way as the other top seeded teams, Munster have won the right to play at Thomond Park. There is nothing to stop them from moving to a bigger venue but that’s their decision,” said ERC PRO Diarmuid Murphy last night.
However, when Munster travelled to Welford Road last season, Leicester considered moving to football’s Walkers Stadium but decided against it on the basis of forgoing their fanatical home support. Ironically, Munster won.
“Why consider giving a visiting team any possible advantage when Thomond Park has served Munster so well over the years. The team has worked exceptionally hard to get to this stage and our view is that they should not throw it away.
“A move to Dublin would yield a lot of money but it wouldn’t be money well spent if the team went out of the competition as a result. It’s really all about getting to the next phase. The reward for getting to this phase is a home game on our own ground and that’s the way it should be looked upon. That’s the way Leicester looked at things last year and that’s the way we’re looking on it as well.”
Alan Gaffney’s side were expecting a third clash with Gloucester in the quarter finals, but a remarkable series of results over the past three days saw them meeting French opposition.
Wasps and Munster finished level on points with 24 each and also with 22 tries apiece but Wasps took the second seeding with a points total of 101 against 96 for Munster.
Top seeds are Toulouse who will enjoy home advantage against Edinburgh, whom they thrashed 37-0 on Saturday. In fourth place came Llanelli, hugely impressive winners over Northampton and they will meet
Leinster’s conquerors Biarritz at their fortress Stradey Park.
“The most important thing is that we are at home”, said Mick Galwey, still part of the Munster set-up.
“We all expected it would be Gloucester and in a way we’re glad that it has worked out otherwise because we wanted something different. Stade are a good side, any team that can go to Welford Road and get a result against Leicester has to be.
“They have a very good pack full of experienced guys and they have Dominguez and Pichot, two players who have been around a long time and are still very influential, at half-back. I was also very impressed by Brian Liebenberg in the centre.” alwey added: “There’s a lovely mix to the quarter- finals, three French teams, two English and one each from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I’m delighted to see Llanelli go through, they’re the kind of team you want to see involved in the Heineken Cup.”
Gaffney agreed: “There’s great rivalry and respect between ourselves and Gloucester but I think this makes for a better draw simply because we have met Gloucester twice already this season. I would love to play them later in the competition and I say that without any disrespect to Stade.”
Of the three Munster-Stade Francais games so far, the most famous has to be the semi-final clash at Lille in 2001 when the English officials Chris White and Steve Lander contrived between them to deprive John O’Neill, the Munster wing, of a perfectly fair try. Stade went on to win 16-15 before losing the final 34-30 against Leicester.
The draw for the semi-finals will be made in Dublin by the Sports Minister John O’Donoghue at 1pm tomorrow.
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