Munster fans looking for final push to Cardiff

MUNSTER must at least win their next three pool matches, starting with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park tomorrow, and they will attempt to do so with the backing of their amazing fans.

European Rugby Cup Ltd yesterday revealed that Munster and Bath supporters are leading the way in ticket purchases for the final of the tournament at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, May 20.

ERC this season introduced the “Support Your Club” campaign, whereby tickets for the showpiece final purchased before January 1, 2006 reap rewards for both the buyer and their nominated Heineken Cup club. The nominated club earns a direct financial benefit per ticket bought and the buyer can choose to be seated with other fans from their club.

Munster and Bath fans hope they are on to winners - on and off the field. The “League Table” for the ERC initiative has Munster fans just ahead of Bath with Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks in the chasing pack. Ospreys fans have put their team at the top of the Welsh regions with Toulouse, Edinburgh Gunners and Rugby Calvisano the leaders from France, Scotland and Italy respectively.

“There is just over two weeks left for Heineken Cup club fans to take advantage of this opportunity to help their clubs and at the same time secure a seat at the Millennium Stadium for the 11th Heineken Cup final,” said ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath last night.

“We have been delighted with the response so far and its looks like Heineken Cup final tickets will be Christmas presents for many sports fans this year. Cardiff has proved an enormously popular venue for the final on the three previous occasions the club finale has been staged there.”

Munster have a long way to go to reach the Millennium Stadium on May 20! They have two routes through which they can progress, either by winning Pool 1 or fi nishing with enough points to qualify for 7th or 8th place. To achieve the former, they will almost certainly need to pick up a couple of bonus points as well as winning their three remaining pool matches.

And to achieve that, they would have to not alone defeat the Dragons tomorrow and Castres in Castres on Friday, January 13 (7.30) but also tournament favourites Sale Sharks at Thomond Park on January 21.

That task is already sounding even more difficult than might have been previously imagined by yesterday’s news that Sebastien Chabal has pledged his future to Sale by signing a new three-year contract.

The French forward has been a huge hit at Edgeley Park since moving from Bourgoin in 2004.

The powerhouse tackle he put in to dispossess Federico Pucciarello led to Sale’s potentially crucial second try when the Sharks and Munster met at Edgeley Road in October and he was a major force throughout that game.

Indeed, that kind of form saw the 28-year-old called up by France and he was part of their recent victories over Australia and Tonga.

Chabal’s new deal means he will be with the Sharks, who are top of the Premiership and in pole position to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, until 2009

“Seabass has already become a legend at the club,” said Sale owner Brian Kennedy.

“He is a real talisman and respected by everyone at the club.”

Chabal has been injured of late but whether he is available or not, Sale are odds-on to dispose of Castres, who are now out of contention, on their home patch tonight. They will also be going in search of a bonus point and should they get it, then they will be closer than ever to pool honours.

Munster had their final training session yesterday prior to the Dragons encounter, with coach Declan Kidney left to decide overnight on his line-up. The only change from last week’s game in Wales is likely to be the recall after a bout of pneumonia of full-back Shaun Payne in place of Mossie Lawler.