Munster's late heroics in vain

AND so it came to pass. We had feared that the season could end despairingly for Irish rugby, that Leicester might prove too cute and Biarritz would be too hot to handle for Leinster and Munster respectively.

With Biarritz, Toulouse and Stade Français all in the Heineken Cup semi-finals, French rugby is in rude health with the World Cup looming in two years' time.

The decision to move yesterday's last remaining quarter-final to the Basque region of northern Spain proved a resounding success. The atmosphere within the stadium was a magnificent advertisement for an outstanding competition.