Mighty Clermont pack a deadly punch as Irish rugby gets a dose of reality

After the high of the autumn international series and the feel good factor attaching to the confirmation during the week that Ireland will bid to host a World Cup in 2023, it was inevitable that Irish rugby would be dealt a dose of reality some time soon, writes Donal Lenihan.

It happened over the weekend with Champions Cup defeats for Munster and Leinster to erase their unbeaten records in Pools 1 and 2 respectively. At least Leinster secured the minimum requirement of a losing bonus point on the road and while Munster also bagged a consolation point for losing by a margin of seven points, that won’t have done much to dampen the pain they experienced when waking up yesterday morning.

It has taken a long time for a French club to come to terms with what is required to meet and beat the Munster challenge on Irish soil. Given the quality of some of the French teams that have taken on that challenge over the years at Musgrave Park, Lansdowne Road and more often at Thomond Park, it is testament to the quality of the Munster resistance that it has taken a total of 24 visits before they eventually managed to crack the code.