O’Connell: fear of failure at fortress Thomond driving Reds

MUNSTER captain Paul O’Connell has revealed ‘the fear factor’ which motivates his side every time they march into Heineken Cup battle at Thomond Park.

The province have been beaten only once in European action at home – against Leicester Tigers in January 2007 – and it’s not a sensation that O’Connell and his colleagues wanted to experience again.

Another Premiership side attempt to storm their fortress on Friday night. Northampton Saints arrive on Shannonside with an enviable record having never lost to Munster in the competition. That’s a record O’Connell wants to smash.