Munster ready to kick on, says Rassie Erasmus

Munster 22 Racing 10: It has been a long and often painful wait, but Munster supporters again have the prospect, not just of a home European quarter-final to savour, but also the personnel with the right mindset to fulfil their potential in the cause of their province.

Saturday’s victory over French champions Racing 92 was another statement of intent in that regard. Having beaten the Parisians handsomely at Stade Yves du Manoir a fortnight previously and then ground out a win at in-form Glasgow Warriors the following week to secure a first appearance in the Champions Cup knockout stages in three seasons, Munster made it three pool wins in a row, to finish as Pool 1 winners, their only loss in six games being that narrow defeat at Leicester, when a last-minute long-range penalty nicked it.

Considering Rassie Erasmus’s side started the European campaign as outsiders in the pool behind last May’s runners-up Racing, perennial PRO12 contenders Glasgow, and English big guns Leicester Tigers, having only crept into the European draw on the last day of the season, there is much for Munster to look back on with satisfaction and pride since that dark day in Paris on October 16.