‘You probably can’t go after them head on’

The “Sold Out” signs have been up for days at Thomond Park, Ireland’s Six Nations heroes have returned to the fold and the treatment room is as busy as it has been all season. Would it be any other way for Munster in a Champions Cup quarter-final week?

The province has been here before, 16 times to be precise and today’s visit of Toulon to the Limerick citadel marks a competition record 17th trip to the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition.

Big guns have come and gone in that time, climbing off their bus with the swagger of conquering invaders only to be sent packing with the Fields of Athenry ringing in their ears on the lonely road back to Shannon airport.