Who will go further in this year's Heineken Cup? Two pupils pull no punches as they give us their verdicts.

Billy Mulcahy,11, from Scoil Oilibhéir, Ballyvolane, in Cork says Munster are a team that knows what it takes to win

WHAT KIND of a question is that to ask? C'mon, everyone knows Munster will go further than Leinster. In fact, I have a pretty good feeling they might even go on to win their third Heineken Cup in four years. Don't forget, they are the European champions and their incredible record in the Heineken Cup cannot be ignored.

Munster are a team that just know what it takes to win. Okay, you all know that to win a cup you have to lose one first, and Munster, having lost two Heineken Cup finals, know well what the pain of defeat is like - but, having won two finals, they have also experienced the pure joy of tasting that success. This puts Munster in a way better position than Leinster to win the Heineken Cup again - sorry Leinster supporters, but facts are facts.

On the field Munster have much better players in their pack than Leinster and since the arrival of the three New Zealanders - Mafi, Tipoki and Howlett - they are now way stronger in the back line positions where Leinster normally dominated. Also, don't forget Munster have the best outhalf in the world in Ronan O'Gara and with the rising stars of Keith Earls and Tomás O'Leary they now have a far more balanced side to not only beat Leinster, but any other team in the competition too.

And you can't ignore the huge advantage Munster have when playing at home in their new Thomond Park stadium, with twice as much room for supporters and fans than before - so you could say the 16th man has become the 17th man!

Thomond Park is a very special and unique place, with an unreal atmosphere that cannot be matched anywhere else and where visiting teams are totally intimidated when they hear the Munster fans belting out The Fields of Athenry and Stand Up and Fight at the top of their lungs. I'm telling you it would bring goosebumps out in you.

Not even the great All Blacks could win there in 1978 - so my Dad tells me! So far in the competition Munster, after their win in Sale, have put themselves in a great position but I have to say also, in Leinster's favour, they will probably top Pool Two.

However, watch out, 'cos it's at the knock-out stages of the competition the real Munster passion and determination will shine through and this is where you'll see Munster really standing up and being counted. Leinster, watch this space!

As a Munster and Irish supporter I wish Leinster well but what with the likes of such first class players as Paul O'Connell, John "The Bull" Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace, you should know that Heineken Cup rugby belongs to Munster.

Munster have the skill, the power and the guts to win their third Heineken Cup. Roll on Edinburgh, May 2009! C'mon Munster!

Niall McCague, 17, from Presentation College in Bray says Leinster appear to be gathering momentum

THE RIVALRY has been significant. Years have passed and the bragging rights have swung in so many directions one would wonder how these sides could be separated. But Munster are old news now. Leinster are back. The RDS is buzzing again, and the players down in Thomond Park seem intimidated by the surroundings of their new stadium.

As each week passes, Leinster appear to be gathering momentum. The Leinster forwards are brimming with intensity, and looking stronger and more refined than Munster. The Elsom-Jennings-Heaslip backrow is an unbeatable trio, with colossal and tigerish intensity and as one English rugby source claimed following the win over Wasps, "it is probably the best backrow in the tournament".

Leo Cullen and Malcolm O'Kelly ooze authority, and the van der Linde-Jackman-Wright front row completes a solid, cohesive unit.

We've already seen Munster struggle for victories over Montauban and Sale. It is obvious they are feeling the pressure of the Leinster dominance. Conversely, Leinster have swept through the challenges of Edinburgh and the group favourites Wasps with the sort of panache their rugby is normally associated with.

They have gained bonus points in both games, paving the way for a home quarter-final. In contrast, Munster have made their route much more difficult by failing to collect those much needed bonus points.

Aided by what is possibly the strongest Leinster team in years, Drico is at the centre of his team's exploits. He is at his imperious best, in glittering form. He is humming with godliness at the moment. His try last week beautifully encapsulated what Leinster rugby is all about. Who was the last Munster player to score a try like that?

What about Contepomi? His dazzling performances in the World Cup confirmed his status as the best back in the world. He would later be selected on the RWC team of the tournament. Contepomi is more industrious and inventive than the Munster number 10, possessing the sort of attacking magic that unhinges opposition defences with ease.

Leinster have been the headline act in this year's Heineken Cup. They have swift and elusive backs, most notably Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald, who have embraced the invitation into the squad with gusto since their arrival.

What Leinster have in this year's Heineken Cup, Munster don't seem to possess. They have an unerring pride and determination, and a squad of zealous players who are stimulated to achieving their goal of Heineken Cup glory. They are almost driven by the fear of failure.

Munster's ascendancy is hyped. They've had their moment of glory, and with the irreplaceable loss of Declan Kidney, they seem rudderless and lacking direction this season. They look to be on a steep decline towards the dark tunnel. Leinster are the form team. Results, performances and moments of magic don't lie. Their path leads to the Millennium Stadium. Who knows what kind of devastating form they will be in come May 23rd? Their destiny is the Heineken Cup.