No fear for Northampton as Best ready to answer Thomond roar

THOMOND PARK holds no fears for Neil Best – and the Irish international is adamant his Northampton Saints team-mates can draw strength from their recent experiences there for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

It will be the third meeting of the season between the teams after the Saints won the Pool 1 opener 31-27 at Franklin’s Gardens and former double Heineken Cup champions Munster won the final group match 12-9 in Limerick three months ago.

Now the prize is an away semi-final against either Biarritz Olympique or the Ospreys next month with Best and fellow Saint and Irish international Roger Wilson – both former Ulster stars – well acquainted with the demands of travelling to play a team who have lost just once in their last 42 home Heineken Cup matches.