Toulon are solid, but no more than that

FOUR defeats in 17 competitive outings across the Magners League and Heineken Cup hardly constitutes a crisis, but such is the competitive edge and expectation set by those within and on the periphery of Munster rugby that in times like this it feels like one.

Problem is, with due respects to the Magners, it all boils down to Europe and what happens in the Heineken Cup. Munster have created a stick to beat themselves with and for some, qualification for the quarter-final stages of the Heineken Cup is seen as a god given right. It doesn’t happen like that however, especially from a pool as difficult and competitive as the one Munster find themselves in this season.

If Munster’s home record in Thomond Park — one defeat in 40 Heineken Cup contests — is something to be rightly proud of, qualifying for the quarter-finals for 12 seasons in-a-row represents an even greater achievement. Even Toulouse have only ever managed a run of four consecutive quarter-finals. That is what is on the line when Munster travel to Toulon this weekend even though it is not widely appreciated that a losing bonus point could keep Munster’s qualification hopes alive should London Irish defy the odds and beat the Ospreys at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Even then qualification would be out of Munster’s hands and dependent on results elsewhere in round six.