Munster on monster mission to clip Wasps wings

DUBLIN is set to become the latest staging post for Munster's great Heineken European Cup adventures this weekend as Ireland becomes the unusual location for a match involving the southern province.

For the fifth consecutive year, Munster will contest the penultimate round of Europe's premier club competition as Alan Gaffney's men continue on their search for rugby's Holy Grail.

Thousands of Munster fans are expected to descend on the capital this weekend for tomorrow's semi-final against Wasps at Lansdowne Road (kick-off 3pm) to support a teams that risks gaining the title of the best XV never to win the European Cup.

Large numbers of Munster's red army are likely to travel without a ticket following the fiasco surrounding the distribution of tickets. They are expected to be joined by about 3,000 visiting Wasps supporters.

However, many fans will hope that they will still be able to pick up spares on the approach roads to the ground, although black market prices are likely to ensure they will need €200 to secure a ticket.

All air and rail services to Dublin from Munster have been booked out, while all roads from the south are likely to experience heavy traffic throughout the weekend.

Unlike Munster, a European Cup semi-final finds Wasps in new territory, although the Londoners, led by English captain Lawrence Dallaglio, are unlikely to be too fazed by the loss of home advantage.

"There aren't many semi-finals of cup competitions that allow you to play in front of 48,000 people at an international ground," said Dallaglio yesterday. "Just as an occasion it ranks as the biggest in the club's history. It really is something to get excited about."

For Wasps' coach Warren Gatland, it also offers him the opportunity to put one over on an Irish side after the inauspicious circumstances in which he was dumped from his position as coach of the national team.

The omens may also favour Wasps, as no Irish provincial side has ever won a European Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road, while no English team as ever lost in the competition while playing at the same venue.

Although Munster remain slight favourites to advance to next month's final in Twickenham against the winners of today's other semi-final between Biarritz and Toulouse, Wasps are capable of putting a sting in the tail of Munster dreams.