Munster on guard for Neath
A pressing engagement is at hand in the shape of the Celtic League Final against Neath, a week from tomorrow, in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
It could be the beginning of an unprecedented hat-trick of rugby titles. It will be a chance to exorcise some lingering Leicester demons which continue to inhabit the Welsh ground, for many Munster men and women. Whatever the reasons, skipper Jim Williams is rather excited about his upcoming fixture list.
"A lot is expected of Munster from every tournament and at the moment we are still in with the chance of three titles the Celtic League, the Heineken Cup and the Irish inter-provincials," said the former Australian international back row forward.
"But the Celtic League final is our first target. The Celtic League is a great concept and as we were beaten in last year's final by Leinster we probably let that one slip away winning it is very high on our priorities."
Neath are the first Welsh club to reach a Celtic League final and, with their Heineken Cup hopes over, lifting the Celtic crown has taken on enhanced importance.
"Sure we beat Neath in the Pool stage of the Celtic League this season but I don't think that will count for much come the final," said Williams.
"They are the form side in Wales with a very good pack of forwards and dangerous players like Shane Williams behind.
"With the final being played at the Millennium Stadium that will make it tougher for us but, after our tremendous win over Gloucester, hopefully our fans will be out in force in Cardiff and get behind and support us again."
His opposite number Gareth Llewellyn is equally enthused about the occasion. However he is adamant that his team will not be over-awed by the double Heineken Cup finalists and their recent Thomond Park heroics.
"We have busted a gut to get to the final, and we have beaten some quality opposition along the way, like Llanelli, Swansea and Cardiff, so we mean business," said Wales lock Llewellyn.
"I have not seen much of Munster this season but they are being very consistent and any team who reaches two Heineken Cup finals in three seasons must be a force.
"We lost 35-19 at home to them in the group stages of the Celtic League, which was probably largely of our own undoing, but we did beat them at The Gnoll last season so at the moment it stands at one apiece.
"We should be two evenly matched sides, both teams have solid sets of forwards and physical backs and Munster were obviously in top form in the last round of the Heineken Cup anyone who beats Gloucester by 30 must be on fire. We put in a positive performance against Leicester and we must take that into the final.
"We had a stuttering start to the season when we ground out a few results but now our game is starting to come together and in the last three matches, against Cardiff, Pontypridd and Beziers, we put in some very good performances.
"When we beat Cardiff in the semi-finals, Cardiff coach Dai Young told me he hoped the whole of Wales would get behind Neath for the final and I hope that happens on the day.
"I am sure we will take plenty of supporters to Cardiff but Munster are also a very well supported team and I would be extremely disappointed if they outnumbered us at the Millennium Stadium.
"Our ticket sales have been fantastic and it will be a great day out for everyone involved with Neath but I would like to think Welsh rugby supporters in general will turn up.
"We are not brilliantly represented in the national side but I honestly believe we have players in the Neath team who are playing as well as anyone else in Wales at the moment.
"We have been there before, we have experienced it and know what to expect. But losing the 2001 Principality Cup final wont have any bearing on the day, hopefully we are a more experienced side as well as having taken on a few new players since then."
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