ONE OF the defining features of sport is its capacity to evoke the polar emotions associated with victory and defeat. And very often, the difference between the two is extraordinarily narrow. That the recent history of Munster rugby is inextricably linked with the former says much about the determination, conviction, skill and savvy of those involved. That they delivered again in Saturday's Heineken Cup Final, after a period of disappointment for Irish rugby at international level, makes their achievement all the sweeter.
It is emblematic of the mystique surrounding Munster that once again, they had to do it the hard way. The road to glory in Europe's primary club competition required them to negotiate the toughest of qualifying pools. And they did so with phenomenal resolve and an uncanny ability to perform on the big occasion. There were disappointments along the way, notably the tightest of defeats to defending champions Wasps last November. But memorable moments included a crucial loser's bonus point against Clermont Auvergne in January in a match in which they trailed at one stage by 17 points; a 13-point victory over home side Gloucester in the quarter-final last month; and, ultimately, the hardest of victories over the aristocrats of French rugby - Toulouse - in Cardiff's Millennium stadium on Saturday.
That victory amounted to mission accomplished for Munster boss Declan Kidney in his final match before taking over the Irish team and it further validated his selection for the top job. It would be foolish to minimise the challenge facing him in that new role after the disappointment of the World Cup and the Six Nations. But the skills and experience that enabled him to steer Munster to the pinnacle of European rugby leave him well equipped to guide a national squad that notwithstanding Triple Crown success, has failed to fulfil its potential. Specifically, Kidney has shown an ability to develop young talent and to rotate his squad to good effect. And he has had the conviction to select his teams on the basis of current form rather than past performance or size of personality and, in doing so, has eschewed sentimentality in pursuit of victory.
In the face of the excitement and emotion generated by Munster's victory - and there was as much of it on the streets of Limerick yesterday as in Cardiff on Saturday - perspective is important. Rugby is a sport and sport is not about life and death. But for those whose allegiance is to the red of Munster, life doesn't get much better than this.