Foley's Treviso Warning

THE unforgiving nature of Munster's Heineken Cup pool ensures that defeat in tomorrow's low-key clash in Treviso will be every bit as detrimental to their ambitions as the high octane reverse to Gloucester two weeks ago.

Between times, Alan Gaffney's side has positioned themselves ideally to qualify as one of the top seeds in the last eight, but as the squad bedded into their Italian base last night, they were all too aware of the cut-throat potential of tomorrow's tie (1.30pm Irish time).

Anthony Foley has unpleasant memories of Treviso and is returning for the first time since Ireland "got stuffed" against Italy in 1995. Such was the chastening experience that he is likely to be a frontline inspiration in the dressing room prior to tomorrow's clash.

"We're here to win but cannot get into the business of setting ourselves specific targets. Of course, we'd love four tries and the bonus point but it would be really silly of us to expect everything to fall into place easily."

He warned: "People still haven't given Treviso credit for what they have achieved in this competition - they have scored seven tries in two games against Bourgoin."

After last week's heroics in Thomond Park, it's back to basics for Munster.

"We've been around enough to know that points don't come easily, particularly away from home, and Italian clubs have been steadily improving over the last few years," said Foley.

"There was a time early in the history of the competition when you would expect to win easily. All that's changed. Treviso have a professional set-up like ourselves, they've attracted in a lot of good players and have produced some good results.

"Italian rugby has benefited through participation in the Six Nations Championship and it can only get better. Our problem right now is to keep a couple of steps ahead to make sure they don't get that close.

"There are two games to go and we have to keep our concentration for both of them, particularly this one away from home.

"If you look at the records of the Heineken Cup, not too many teams do actually win away from home. If they do, they don't win by huge scores so we have got to be realistic in the goals we set ourselves," he said.

Foley, the most capped player in the history of the Heineken Cup, believes Munster will move on and reach the quarter-finals, hopefully earning a home draw in the last eight.

"I think it's fair to say that people maybe expected too much of us in the match against Gloucester at Kingsholm a fortnight ago. Maybe we expected too much of ourselves and went cold as a result.

"On occasions there will be teams go through a group undefeated but it's becoming harder and harder as the competition becomes more intense.

"At the start of the season, I would have settled for losing to Gloucester away, assuming of course that it didn't make any difference to our ability to qualify. Five wins from six games is probably a realistic target.

"It will come down to our ability to be consistent. Remember that because of the World Cup and various other issues, we haven't spent much time together as a team.

"But if Treviso think they will catch us in beneficial mood, or if they believe we might be over-confident, they will be disappointed."

Treviso officials expect they will attract their biggest crowd of the season for tomorrow's game with 6,000 expected.

Said Treviso coach Craig Green: "We have had ticket enquiries from Irish people in England, France and other countries in Europe. It appears to be a phenomenal success story, this Munster one.

"We know they never travel light from home, but there could be a lot more Irish in the crowd for this game."

He explained: "It's always difficult for Italian rugby teams to bring in the crowds. There is a lot of sporting opposition, particularly from soccer. Then you have basketball, and on a cold Saturday afternoon most people decide to spend time with their families indoors at this time of the year.

"Munster have a huge reputation amongst Italian rugby supporters. People want to come and see them. They have done a huge amount of good for Irish rugby over the last few years and, hopefully, that will stand to us as much as it stands to them."

TREVISO (v Munster): S. Mason, S. Legg, W. Pozzebon, M. Dallan, B. Williams, F. Smith, S. Picone; G. Faliva, F. Ongaro, S. Costanzo, S. Dellape, A. Gritti, E. Pavanello, S. Palmer, S. Parisse.

Replacements: F. Sbaraglini, R. Martinez, C. Checchinato, J. Erasmus, S. Orlando, P. Travagli, T. Visentin.