Forget siesta at San Seb fiesta

THE pattern is familiar by this stage. Munster qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup and are handed an away draw.

Travel agents rub their hands with glee, fans trudge towards the credit union and the team and management apologise because their supporters must dig deep once again.

Yet, this costly annual odyssey has provided Munster’s Heineken Cup story with its mythological quality and is why the trophy is continually referred to as the holy grail when linked with the province.