Gloucester want it loose, so let's not facilitate them

FOR years in Europe, Munster have thrived on the underdogtag which inspired famous victories against opposition deemed by neutrals to be far superior.

If one game buried that notion forever, it was the miracle match in Thomond Park against Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final opponents, Gloucester. Then, as now, they sat at the summit of the much vaunted English Premiership.

It seems somewhat ironic, therefore, that at the very moment Munster are officially confirmed as Europe’s No 1 team the Cherry and Whites stand between them and another Heineken cup semi-final.