Munster can still improve, insists O’Driscoll

MICK O’DRISCOLL smiled when informed that after Sunday’s magnificent Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan in France, skipper Paul O’Connell claimed Munster “are still a long way short of Leinster’s form”.

Even though O’Connell spoke those words with a straight face, there was just the hint of a tongue cheek about it. Asked if he agreed with his captain’s comments, O’Driscoll dryly remarked: “You had better go back to Paulie on that one. But if he said it, I suppose that’s enough.”

No hostages of fortune will be taken in the Munster camp — in stark contrast to the inexperienced Perpignan back-row forward Yoann Vivaldo, who was quoted last week as saying “Munster played like an academy side” in the first meeting of the teams. You might have thought that would have made for ideal motivational material for Munster but not so, according to O’Driscoll.