The trip from Tipp

Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan are ensuring the Munster odyssey spreads beyond Limerick and Cork. Declan Colley and Barry Coughlan report.

TIPPERARY native Alan Quinlan has all the qualities of the world-class flanker. The Munster man combines strong running and immense physical power with fine handling and terrific line-out skills. The Red Army will hope all those qualities are on show in today's Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins at Twickenham.

They'll be hoping another Quinlan trait isn't as visible: the occasional lowering of the red mist. A close family member brings a bottle of holy water to matches, and in the beginning it was sprinkled on every player as they ran onto the pitch to bring them luck. Eventually Quinlan had the entire contents dumped on him in the hope he wouldn't concede penalties.