Undaunted O’Connell relishing challenge

PERHAPS it’s just as well that only a third of Sunday’s likely starting line-up were in the Munster team that lost 23-8 to Perpignan in the Heineken Cup in 2003.

It was one of the most decisive defeats the province have suffered in the competition, and not something any member of the current squad would like see repeated.

My memories of the game are of the freezing cold, the non-stop music from a series of bands dotted around the Stade Aime Giral, the raucous reaction to every decision against their side by the partisan crowd and the unapologetic manner in which they heckled their visitors from kick-off to final whistle.