Murphy says Tierney has the nerve for battle

A COVETED place in the semi finals of the Heineken European Cup is the prize on offer, but tomorrow’s meeting of Leicester Tigers and Munster at Welford Road has the feeling of a final about it.

The finality of knockout fare ensures that whoever holds their nerve over 80 tense minutes is likely to be making plans for a semi-final in Toulouse or Northampton in two weeks time.

The battle around the scrum has already been given extra spice by the inclusion of Limerick’s Tom Tierney at scrum-half for the reigning champions, but his Irish colleague Geordan Murphy has no fears that Tierney will lose his nerve in battle.