No histrionics, please

REALITY will have dawned on the Munster squad when they assembled for training over the last two days that things are different.

The absence of that traditional buzz and feeling of anticipation in the build up to their final pool game is something they have not experienced for well over a decade.

The non-appearance of the Sky cameras with their questions will provide definitive evidence that Munster are now off Broadway, on the outside looking in. The fact that Leinster, and hopefully Ulster, will play a central role when the quarter-final permutations are completed on Sunday afternoon will only add to the feeling of exclusion.