European Cup final:  After Biarritz clinched the French championship last season I called my old mate Patrice Lagisquet to congratulate him on the success. They had won it playing Leinster-style rugby, but Patrice admitted they would not win the Heineken European Cup unless they evolved. The blueprint was Munster.

Lagisquet looked at the way Munster were winning the big European games year in, year out. It comes down to a few basic tools combined together - a highly accurate kicking game allied to an effective maul and most importantly, a relentless physicality. It's a compliment to Irish rugby, but Biarritz have brought this methodology on to another level. Munster must respond.

Ironically, Munster also appeared to evolve in a different way this season with the use of a strike runner at 13 in Barry Murphy. This is no longer an option so expect an unholy war this afternoon. The classic FA Cup final last weekend will probably have produced more scores. If you are a rugby purist go elsewhere, but I'm still expecting a fascinating encounter.

In the semi-final victory over Bath the new attitude pervading through French rugby came to the fore: Biarritz were no longer interested in how much they won by; victory itself was all that mattered.

This was best exemplified in the closing moments when I counted 15 pick-and-drives from the base of the ruck. Even when their excellent playmaker Dimitri Yachvili was allowed touch the footie he went back inside. It was relentless. What impressed was the methodical sucking up of time. They were content to gain one inch at a time and wait for Bath to cough up a penalty.

This is the new, ruthless Biarritz. Defence will be the order of the day. Having said all that they can tear a team to shreds out wide with Sereli Bobo, Damien Traille and Nicolas Brusque particularly devastating.

They won't, though. That's the real discipline of their game: they could play expansive rugby but they refuse to.

When in possession it is all about kicking for position, through Yachvili or Julien Peyrelongue, and then waiting for opponents to make errors. Munster will do likewise so expect a cataclysmic collision at the breakdown.

Biarritz will target the Munster scrum. We spoke during the week of how Jerry Flannery must ensure the Munster front row take contact on their own terms. They must engage low. If that means collapsing or spinning a few times to regain composure then so be it. Terrorist tactics. If your opposition is superior avoid a structured battle. Attack them on the sidelines. Keep alternating the battlefield away from their strengths. Drag them into a messy war.

The French also have an advantage with three quality lineout jumpers. Not that Anthony Foley can't jump. It's just Imanol Harinordoquy is world class at the tail.

Away from the forwards, I think Munster should have picked Rob Henderson at centre. I had the pleasure of coaching Rob for Ireland A. When an exile utilises his ancestry to play for Ireland he needs to prove his commitment. That has never been in doubt with Rob. He is a special guy. This might be the last really majestic day in his career. He made messrs O'Driscoll and D'Arcy work damn hard in the semi-final, proving there is at least one hour of great rugby left in him. He is a leader.

Ronan O'Gara is, as ever, the crucial cog. It will be his job to punish Biarritz for any mistakes, and have no doubt, Serge Betsen will give away penalties on the deck. Betsen was sin-binned after five minutes in the 2003 quarter-final against Leinster.

The same applies to Yachvili but the ability of Traille to slip back and strike a field goal is another weapon.

The parallel in tactics should mean very little separates the sides. Despite Biarritz dominating territory, both Sale and Bath were in touching distance at the death.

They will attempt to out-Munster Munster. Can it be done? Maybe, but I hope not. Munster deserve to be crowned champions more than any other team but destiny will not win them the game. How well the Munster process is implemented on the field will dictate the outcome.

They will know from last year's quarter-final defeat that the intensity will be ferocious right from the kick-off. Munster can win but it won't be like the Leinster match when the opposition cracked.

Another great motivation must be the fear of losing this game. Defeat here, on top of the previous semi-finals and finals, will leave Munster labelled the nearly men of the rugby community. It's almost unthinkable.

For the sake of Irish rugby I hope this does not come to pass.