Cardiff is calling

Victory for Leinster tomorrow could catapult them to a second Heineken Cup success, believes Donal Lenihan. The outlook is not so promising for Ulster however. Munster? The future starts here.

CHANGED times. Yet again two Irish teams contest the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup but for the first time in 13 years, Munster are not one of them. Instead the twice champions enjoy a support role this weekend, contesting a game in the Amlin Challenge Cup for the first time in their European history.

Leinster, with a home draw at the quarter and semi-final stages, have been elevated to tournament favourites, such was the positive manner in which they negotiated their way through a very difficult pool. Emerging from a group containing the reigning French champions, Clermont Auvergne, their high-flying French rivals Racing Metro and formidable Premiership contenders Saracens, more than justifies the high expectations placed on the shoulders of Leo Cullen’s men.