Plenty of time now to ponder over the future

IT had to end some time, of course.

Just not like this.

Munster’s place at European rugby’s top table has gone after a dozen years at the business end of the Heineken Cup and in miserable circumstances. Toulon, the new princes of French rugby, put the Irish kings to the sword, ending the two-time champions’ interest in Pool Three qualification with a mix of rugged dominance, ruthless kicking and even a bit of flair as Munster lost both Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara to the sin bin in short succession either side of half time.