Nothing straight-forward here
For now, though, Munster coach Tony McGahan will be concentrating his entire attention on the quarter-final clash against Northampton at Thomond Park over the second weekend in April. Additional spice will undoubtedly attend that occasion as it is the third meeting of the teams this season. At this level of rugby, familiarity does breed contempt.
“We have had the utmost respect for Northampton since the original draw was made and if anything that has grown after the way they took us on last Friday,” McGahan said last night. “They are a very good side. That kind of game was always going to be attritional and I thought we did very well to come out with the desired result.
“Now the international players are gone and with the majority of ours playing most of the time, that’s always a concern. What we must ensure is that the remainder of the squad clicks in the three important Magners League games against Edinburgh, Scarlets and the Dragons, so that the Irish guys come back into a very good and strong camp.
“It’s unusual to play the same team three times in the same competition in the same year and I imagine Northampton would have picked up a lot of confidence from their performance at the weekend. They would also have been disappointed with some aspects of their game just as we were with some parts of ours. They’ll come again expecting to get a result.”
Though Munster were number one seeds and Northampton No 8, McGahan said: “We don’t see it like that at all and certainly after reading some of the papers, others don’t see it like that either, saying we were lucky to be there. There have been small margins in both games.”
McGahan struggled to conceal his disappointment that the team and the fans would have to travel either to France or Wales for a potential semi-final. But he stressed: “Munster have proved over the years they are well able to play away from home in big games. There’s a lot of rugby to be played between then and now but hopefully that challenge will be waiting for us down the track but we need to make sure things are ticking along in the Celtic League and then in the quarter-final.”
Leinster’s Dublin appointment with Clermont, meanwhile, could prove the outstanding quarter-final encounter.
“The quality of the teams left in the Heineken Cup is just unbelievable, and this season the French teams have really hit back with their teams winning four of the six pools,” said Leinster captain Leo Cullen. “It has brought a French feel to the tournament and you have to say they are looking pretty formidable, particularly with the prospect for them of playing in the final in Paris in May.”
Leinster will make a decision on whether to play their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Clermont Auvergne at the RDS or Croke Park early this week. The Branch executive confirmed yesterday: “The Professional Game Board will meet early this week, in conjunction with theLeinster team management, to confirm the arrangements for this game.”
Moving to Croke Park for the April fixture would be straightforward. The GAA’s Central Council retains the authority to decide on what rugby and soccer games can be played at their flagship stadium until the new Aviva Stadium opens in August.
What Leinster have to decide on is the relative merits of both venues. The RDS, with its 18,500 capacity would guarantee a fervent atmosphere although, under ERC rules, one quarter of tickets would be reserved for the away support. A switch to the GAA’s HQ would allow thousands more fans access to the game but the question is, would it provide for a less intimidating atmosphere for the French and thus lessen Leinster’s chances?
There would also be financial issues to consider, such as how much the GAA would seek in rental fees and how much the Leinster Branch could expect to make on a game at the 82,000-capacity stadium.
Heineken Cup semi-finals (May 1-2nd): Toulouse/Stade Français v Leinster/Clermont Auvergne; Biarritz/Ospreys v Munster/Northampton.
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