Tadhg Beirne: Backs against the European wall from day one

FULL-PACKAGE: Munster’s Tadhg Beirne. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Tadhg Beirne believes Munster will begin their Heineken Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse on Sunday already in must-win territory and it is a position he is relishing.

Such is the nature of a condensed pool stage in the current competition format, with just four matches to claim a top-eight finish in a 12-team league and progress to the knockout stages, that every match point will be crucial to Munster’s hopes of making the round of 16, let alone securing a home draw.