Top coaches in video queue

ZURICH Premiership coaches were queuing up yesterday to get hold of Gloucester’s Thomond Park horror video.

The league leaders were still in a state of shock after their return from Limerick following their 33-6 defeat.

Bath backs coach Brian Smith, the former Australian and Irish international, believes the way may now be open for others to follow Munster's lead.

Gloucester are six points clear in the Premiership with 14 of the 22 games completed. They lead on 52 points from Sale (44), Leeds (39), champions Leicester and Wasps (both on 35).

But Smith, despite the fact Bath are second from bottom, believes his side can beat the leaders when they meet at Kingsholm in a couple of weeks.

"We drew the first game at the Recreation Ground and I felt we were unlucky not to win. Munster's achievement has given us a new perspective on the situation.

"Nobody expected Gloucester to be trounced in that fashion and Munster did what no team in England could do. Gloucester have lost a couple of games away from home but the margins were narrow. Nobody really believed they could be taken apart in the way they were.

"Munster clearly identified the weaknesses in the Gloucester team. A few teams in England have identified the same weaknesses but didn't manage to do anything about it.

"I reckon the video of that match will be very popular in a few English clubs over the coming weeks."

Smith expressed delight that Munster were able to pull off what he described as a "miracle".

"I know a lot of people in England were delighted because, after all, everyone has an affection for the

underdog. Munster have been there and done that, but on this occasion everyone had them written off.

"What they did was absolutely amazing and goes to prove there are no lost causes. You go out there, try your best, keep the composure and anything is possible once you have the talent to go with brain. Munster clearly have brain, brawn and a lot of talent."

This game was the talking point of the weekend and the reaction in London Irish was one of immense pleasure. Chief executive Conor O'Shea, a former Leinster player, was delighted with his former province.

"They have played brilliantly throughout this tournament but I think that Munster's achievement, in the circumstances, had to make the headlines this weekend."

Ironically, London Irish put paid to the possibility of an all Irish quarter-final by beating Toulouse on Sunday.

"I don't think we did Munster a favour by winning this match because they now have to travel to Leicester. Still, I reckon both Munster and Leinster are capable of getting through and it would be great if they could even meet in the final. That would be a very special occasion for Irish rugby and it's not beyond the bounds of possibility."

O'Shea hailed the Munster display and pointed out that it never came down to any particular individual.

"I watched every minute of it, played out every play and I can honestly say that each of the 15 guys got on top of their opposite numbers. It would be impossible and very unfair to pick out any of them for special mention. It was just a very special day in the history of Munster rugby.

"Gloucester are a very good side but Munster made them look very ordinary. They really did what nobody in England did to them this season."

Tipping both Irish provinces to advance to the last eight, O'Shea did, however, issue the following warning.

"Leinster have home advantage to Biarritz, but are coming up against an excellent side that could expose any mistakes. Munster have to go to Welford Road and not too many teams win there.

"It is going to be very difficult but not impossible. The one doubt I would have is, that if Leicester get Austin Healey and Tim Stimpson back to full fitness, they will be back in the driving seat.

"They don't quite function fully without these two and the availability of Geordan Murphy could also be an important factor in their favour.

"In last season's final, Healey and Murphy were effectively the game breakers. They were the only difference between two evenly matched sides."

The final word on Munster's stirring triumph goes to former Irish coach Warren Gatland. "I never doubted that Munster could beat Gloucester, but I never really believed they could do what was necessary to win by four tries and 27 points.

"I have only seen the highlights of the game but I look forward to seeing the whole match. It was a great Munster performance and proof yet again that Irish teams can compete at this level.

"The result in Ravenhill wasn't quite good enough for Ulster but it was still a very good performance.

"Leinster's win in Bristol keeps Irish provinces to the forefront in European competition and that's great."

Gatland, as Irish coach, witnessed first hand how English and Frenchteams strutted their stuff in advance of big games.

"With Ireland, we had a couple of really big good days. It seems to me Gloucester might have gone to Limerick with an arrogant attitude. It's hard to say whether that was the case or not, but one way or another Munster made them pay