Donal Lenihan: A stressful Saturday to encourage callow Munster cubs

The hard-fought win over Northampton was another important staging post for Graham Rowntree and his players.

JOB DONE: Paddy Patterson, left, and Alex Kendellen of Munster celebrate after their side's victory against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park. Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

With both Leinster and Munster already advanced to the round of 16 Heineken Champions Cup action next April with a game to spare, next weekend's pool games are all about improving their seeding for the knockout phase.

While Leinster look nailed on to secure a top seeding birth that would facilitate all their remaining games being played in Dublin, Munster have still to negotiate a fascinating tie away to Toulouse at the Stade Ernest Wallon next Sunday. Having escaped to victory on Saturday against Northampton, they should approach that enticing trip as another exciting step on their evolutionary road.