TICKET NEWS:MUNSTER WILL receive an initial ticket allocation of 13,500 for the Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on Sunday, April 27th (kick-off 3pm). The Irish province's allowance will be distributed through the clubs and will go on sale from tomorrow.
Their opponents, Saracens, will be given the same number (13,500) even though they are officially deemed the "home" team for the fixture.
The Ricoh Arena has a capacity of 32,000 for the European semi-final and some tickets are likely to go on general sale, subject to the demands of the combatants.
Given corporate and media considerations there should still be about 4,000 tickets, which could go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster, but this eventuality will arise only after the teams have distributed their allocations.
Tickets for the other semi-final, between London Irish and Toulouse at Twickenham on Saturday, April 26th, have already gone on sale through Ticketmaster, with just over 2,000 purchased. The clubs have not yet received their allotments but with an 82,000 capacity at the London venue, getting a ticket won't be a problem.
The pricing structure sees tickets available for £20, £30 and £40, with concessions for children and old-age pensioners. There are already 50,000 tickets sold for the European final at the Millennium stadium and it's interesting to note the two teams must share just 15,000 in total, considerably less than the semi-final carve-up.
Should Munster make the final (5pm kick-off), it promises to be a good day's sport; the Republic of Ireland's first soccer match under manager Giovanni Trapattoni kicks off at Croke Park at 7.30pm.
Of more immediate import for Munster is their Magners League game against Leinster at the RDS next Saturday (6.30pm).
Coach Declan Kidney will learn today whether he will be able to call upon prop Marcus Horan and flanker David Wallace.
Horan pulled out of the Gloucester game just before kick-off and will receive the result of a scan today. Wallace suffered a serious knock to his face and he too will know the extent of the damage following an X-ray.
Munster must also contend with the ludicrous rescheduling of their postponed fixture against Ulster at Ravenhill - which was called off because of snow on January 4th - to Tuesday April 29th, just two days after their Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.
Quite how the province is expected to play matches on a Sunday afternoon in Coventry and the following Tuesday night in Belfast beggars belief.
Nor is it likely Connacht will be enamoured of the farce given the importance of their running battle with Ulster at the foot of the Magners League table.
Munster will announce their squad for Saturday's game in the RDS after training today.
Kidney is looking forward to another tough outing.
"It's a local derby and different from any other type of league match," he said. "It should be a great occasion. It's not so long ago that these games would attract a crowd of 2,500 and now you consider the numbers that are attending. We are under no illusion about the task ahead."
Leinster will wait until tomorrow to announce a squad but it's virtually certain Gordon D'Arcy, despite returning to training, will not be available for selection for the Munster game, a fate that could be shared by his midfield partner Brian O'Driscoll.
The Leinster and Ireland captain is also back in training and, while closer than D'Arcy to a return, is not guaranteed to be back by this weekend.
