Munster will secure a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup in April with victory over second-placed Northampton in their high stakes round six pool match.
Two-time Heineken Cup winners Munster would remain strong favourites to make the quarter-finals for the 12th successive season as group runners-up, even with a defeat on Friday night.
However, any quarter-final berth secured in those circumstances would be away from home.
Northampton Saints, winners over Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup final and again when the sides met in the pool stages of this season’s competition in October, are currently within two points of Munster.
Tony McGahan’s Munster men maintained their grip on top spot in the pool with a thoroughly convincing 44-7 victory over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday. Munster ran in six tries against the hapless Italians with centre Keith Earls helping himself to a brace. Northampton remained in touch after recording a last gasp, 34-0, bonus-point win of their own over USAP Perpignan at Franklin’s Gardens yesterday.
Munster received a timely boost ahead of Friday night’s showdown at Thomond Park when Marcus Horan played his first game in 11 weeks when lining out for Shannon in their AIL Division 1A tie against Dolphin at Coonagh on Saturday.
Horan, who played the full 80 minutes for the AIL holders, said he felt fine afterwards and was pleased to be back playing after undergoing a routine medical procedure in October.
Prop Horan may well be included in the Munster squad for the big clash against the Saints.
While pleased with their win against Treviso, Munster skipper Paul O’Connell warned that Northampton would provide a different level of opposition at Thomond Park next Friday night.
“There was some good rugby there. Sometimes that happens, you can get over the gain line and things start happening.
“I have no doubt the game against Northampton, the English League leaders, will be very much different. I would not read a lot into the match with Treviso,” O’Connell warned.
“I was a bit worried about our match fitness beforehand. A few of us perform best when we have a couple of games under our belts. At the same time we are very fresh. I think while we were worried about the break, it can be a good thing for us as well. Friday’s game in Thomond Park should be a cracker.”
Following his side’s 34-0 bonus point win over USAP Perpignan yesterday, Northampton’s rugby director, Jim Mallinder said they were unhappy with just a five-day turnaround between their round five and round six games.
“We were disappointed at only having five days between our last two games, especially as Munster got six,” Mallinder said.
“It was because of the short turn around time that we made some of the substitutions in the second half.
“We wrote to ERC to explain why we were unhappy at the decision and Premier Rugby backed us up. But now we have to get on with it and we will go to Munster on the back of 10 wins in a row. The team have shown over the last few games that they have massive belief in themselves and we are on a good run.
“We will be going to Thomond Park looking for a victory and we have the belief we can win there. We have a pack who are competitive and we showed that when we beat Munster in the first round. You can’t afford to be intimidated going to a place like Thomond Park and you have to stand toe-to-toe with a side like Munster.”
COLM KINSELLA
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