Reality check for Munster

THE bonus point Munster secured by finishing within seven of Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night keeps them in Magners League pole position, but their Heineken Cup aspirations have taken a battering.

Munster head for the Madejski Stadium and a clash with Aviva Premiership leaders London Irish on Saturday conscious that their lack of try-scoring abilities was ruthlessly highlighted by Leinster who, themselves, will hardly bristle with confidence at the prospects of taking on French outfit, Racing Metro.

A magnificent try from Irish skipper Brian O’Driscoll provided the inspiration for Leinster’s fifth successive win over their old rivals in a match of high intensity but of low quality in which the amount of turnovers was inexplicable.