AFTER their epic win last weekend in what was one of the best rugby matches ever at Thomond Park, Munster Rugby face a new challenge this weekend. By virtue of their failure to reach the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup, Tony McGahan’s men are still in Europe and still in contention for silverware in the Amlin Challenge Cup. The French side Brive will be Munster’s opponents on Saturday at 1pm and they will provide another huge test for the Munster men.
Speaking ahead of the tie, Munster coach Tony Mc Gahan commented, that what went on last weekend, matters little ahead of this weekend’s game. “We need to leave the Leinster game at the door and now focus solely on Brive because they will not give a hoot about what we have done against Leinster and whether or not we have prevented Leinster making it six in a row against us. It is going to be a big game for them as well because they are probably a little further away from their Top 14 ambitions than they would like to be and so for Brive and all their supporters down there Munster will be a huge contest.”
Munster will have to do without Paul O’Connell who looks like he will be out for sometime with an ankle injury. With the news this week also that Sam Tuitupou will be leaving at the end of the season and with Ian Dowling’s sad forced retirement, Munster must try and stay focused on the task at hand amidst injury and departures. A semi final at home against Harlequins or Wasps awaits, if Munster can go to well again.
