Food for thought

BEATEN by double scores and still flattered by the 22-11 scoreline, Munster limped away from Kingsholm on Saturday knowing they have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Cup for the sixth successive year.

Gloucester, visibly aching to avenge the humiliating reverse they suffered when the sides last met at Thomond Park 12 months ago, played the game at a pace Munster just couldn't match. Were it not for a sterling defence, Munster might well have been at the receiving end of a serious hammering and now they have a mere seven days to regroup for what is sure to be a mammoth task in Limerick. Defeat there and it's as good as curtains for Alan Gaffney's men. If they don't step up appreciably on this and other distinctly poor recent performances (remember Connacht and the 3-0 Celtic League fiasco), then they will be in serious trouble.

Paul O'Connell, one of the few Munster players to emerge with credit from the occasion, put it succinctly: "Gloucester are a seriously good team. They beat Leicester in Leicester last week quite convincingly and we were doing cartwheels when we did it last year, so it just goes to show how good they are."