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.