Watershed moment beckons for Munster

IT is usually deep into January before Heineken Cup coaches throw their cards on the table and prepare to stand or fall by their decisions but this evening’s opener at home to Northampton could prove to be a watershed moment for Munster and Tony McGahan.

These are unusual times for Munster supporters and not only because this is only the third time in 11 seasons their province has opened a Heineken Cup campaign on home soil. Yet beginning this season’s tournament at Thomond Park merely throws McGahan’s squad under the spotlight even further because a defeat to last year’s in-form finalists tonight will leave qualification from Pool 1 to the knockout stages seriously in doubt.

Munster do not need reminding that they failed to reach the quarter-finals last season for the first time in 13 Heineken Cup campaigns but they fell by the wayside as a result of their away form and sloppy defeats at London Irish, Ospreys and Toulon, not because of their home form.