Jennings ready for Munster test

Shane Jennings accepts “the whole of Ireland” will probably rank Leinster as underdogs in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final showdown against holders Munster.

Leinster have never previously reached a Heineken final, falling three times at the tournament’s penultimate stage.

Munster, meanwhile, are chasing a third European title in four seasons, and their 43-9 quarter-final demolition of the Ospreys suggests they could make it mission accomplished.

When the fierce Irish rivals last met in Europe, Munster romped home 30-6 at Lansdowne Road.

And many pundits feel tomorrow’s sold-out Croke Park encounter in Dublin could follow a similar pattern.

“To be honest, it is hard to say whether it is a benefit or a hindrance knowing each other so well,” said former Leicester flanker Jennings.

“But we have played them twice this season and they won on both occasions, so they have to go into the semi-final as hot favourites.

“Each team pretty much knows what to expect from the other, but the whole of Ireland will quite rightly regard us as the underdogs.

“We have a massive task ahead of us in taking on the champions of Europe, and playing in Dublin is no great advantage to us either.

“The majority of the Munster boys know Croke Park well and have been successful there, so it is of no additional benefit for us.”

Perhaps the most anxious observer tomorrow will be British and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan.

Up to 10 of the players selected for the South Africa tour that starts later this month could feature at Croke Park, and McGeechan has already been struck by an injury blow, losing Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary from his plans.

Cardiff Blues are likely to parade all six of their Lions – although number eight Andy Powell is set for a bench role – when they tackle Leicester in Sunday’s Heineken semi-final at the Millennium Stadium.

The Blues’ recent form – a Heineken quarter-final victory over three-time European champions Toulouse and an EDF Energy Cup final rout of Gloucester - makes them slight favourites.

Leicester, though, are in no mean shape themselves, having finished top of the Guinness Premiership by five points following the 22-game regular season that took them into next week’s play-off against Bath as number one seeds.

“We will go into the semi-final with a lot of confidence, but we know we will be up against a very good Leicester side who will also approach the match confidently,” said Blues skipper Paul Tito.

The Blues have won all 12 of their knockout games this term – seven in the Heineken Cup and five EDF ties – yet Tito added: “12 from 12 is a nice record, but it doesn’t amount to much on Sunday.

“We know that without another big performance we are 80 minutes from going out of the tournament.”

Leicester claimed European and domestic doubles in 2001 and 2002, a stunning feat that four more wins on the Heineken and Premiership stages would see them achieve it again this season.

But head coach Richard Cockerill said: “All this talk of trophies is a bit surreal for me – I just get on with what I do.

“All the fanfare of what we’ve done and how we are doing it just washes over my head really.

“If we get some silverware I will reflect on it at the end of the year, but we’ve got some good teams and big games to play.”