RUGBY: Munster have been through the Heineken European Cup qualifying minefield so often nobody will have a more innate understanding of what's required over the final two games. Saturday's 36-8 win over Castres leaves them with their destiny in their own hands, knowing that two more wins will secure a quarter-final place for the seventh season in a row.
However, news of the Ospreys' 46-19 rout of Harlequins raised eyebrows in the Munster brains trust on Saturday evening, for it has made Pool Four a three-way tussle. This time last year Munster were also on 14 points, and needed two wins with bonus points for a 24-point haul to fend off Gloucester in their pool.
They'll also be mindful that at least 23 points could be necessary to earn a home quarter-final - as was the threshold last season. Munster are one of four pool leaders on 14 points, whereas Leinster, one of two unbeaten pool leaders on 17 points (Newcastle being the others), know two more wins will guarantee a Lansdowne Road quarter-final.
"We've got to get two wins," admitted Alan Gaffney. "And we're not treating either opposition lightly. The Ospreys were very difficult over in the Gnoll and Harlequins over in London will not be an easy proposition either. We know that Castres are still alive and with the Ospreys winning, they're still alive. So we know we've still got work to do."
Captain Remi Vigneaux acknowledged that Castres are probably now vying for one of the two best runners-up slots. In actual fact, victories in their concluding games at home to Harlequins and away to the Ospreys (who could be out of contention by then) could well achieve that goal, especially if they came with a bonus point or two.
This raises the possibilty/spectre of Munster and Castres renewing their embittered rivalry again in the quarter-finals, to which Vigneaux grinned broadly and countered: "Pourquoi pas?" At least Ronan O'Gara and Paul Volley (gleefully serenaded for much of the last 10 minutes by the crowd) appear to have settled their differences, the Castres flanker at one point giving O'Gara a few friendly words and a pat on the back.
"We kind of made up and enjoyed a joke or two, and he was complimentary," confirmed O'Gara. "You've got to compliment a fellow when he comes full circle and I was probably no angel last week so I think in terms of sport it was nice that that happened in the end."
A rare yellow card for "messing with a prop (Justin Fitzpatrick)" as he put it, though he smiled when stating there weren't many punches thrown or given, was a slight blemish on a day when O'Gara marked his 50th European Cup appearance by eclipsing Diego Dominguez as the competition's record points scorer with 649.
"The goal-kicking has been going well," he admitted, before switching to his main focus. "The big thing for us is the back line has been criticised but it's time now for us to start reaching our potential and I think fellas started to deliver tonight."
Particularly Christian Cullen. "He's a class player. He hasn't been getting the ball in space and I think the best has yet to come from him. You saw once he gets a bit of space what a quality player he is and you wouldn't want to swap him for anyone."
After 100 minutes' playing time, sizeable chunks of it spent sorting out spats, the officials conducting risible touchside conversations or going to the television match official, the thought occurred that the Thomond crowd should have been furnished with ref links to extract full entertainment from the occasion.
There is an umbilical link between Munster team and supporters, and the events of a week before had sparked the faithful into vibrant full voice. Crammed inside well before kick-off, the cheer to send their team into the dressing-room had been as tremulous as any before.
"I don't know what it is about the connection between the crowd and us," said Paul O'Connell. "It's like we sense their mood and they sense our mood, and the intensity of the crowd today reflected the intensity of our performance I think. It was a massive lift for us, as usual."
And, of course, the post-match verbals from a week before, public and private, were grist to the mill. "Our supporters would have read a lot of what was said in the press, and they would have come to the game a bit angry over what went on over there, especially coming back," said Anthony Foley.
Vigneaux admitted the Thomond Park crowd were, "as we say in France, like a 16th man."
As we say in Ireland too. Truly, you really haven't lived until you've been to Thomond Park on days like this.
