Long playing record set to run

ONLY twice before have Munster reached the Christmas break with a perfect return (four from four) in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup.

On both occasions they went on to contest the finals in 2000 and 2002. Saturday’s victory at Thomond Park also cemented another European milestone with a 12th consecutive victory — a tournament record likely to be extended further when the competition resumes in January in Geneva against Bourgoin.

Leinster’s excellent 25-13 victory away in Agen maintains their position at the top of pool 2 and they too look set for a quarter-final appearance come the New Year.