Cardiff conversation: How the Heineken Cup was won

Better than 2006? By general consensus, yes. While the manic fear of losing drove Munster to a first Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz, this time around there was a clinical, cold intensity about the manner in which they squeezed the resistance out of France’s finest. Six of the central characters relive one of this country’s finest sporting achievements.

THE BUILD UP

Paul Darbyshire, Munster fitness coach: “Three or four weeks before the final the lads were starting to peak, they were starting to achieve personal bests in the gym. As a result we were on to the coaches to hold back on what they were doing, and credit them for being receptive — they cut sessions short and so on to keep the lads fresh.”