This article is from page 104 of the 2008-12-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 104 JPG
THE significance of next Saturday for Munster increased dramatically this weekend on the back of their 25-19 defeat against Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Now, the return game in Thomond Park could prove crucial as Sunday’s result threw the Pool One table wide open with Sale and Claremont now fighting it out with Munster to head the table.
For Clonlara’s Marcus Horan — who scored his side’s only try on Sun- day — Saturday will also be a major personal milestone, as he will have scaled a half-century of Heineken Cup appearances.
And according to Munster captain Paul O’Connell, Munster will need every single player firing on all cyl- inders in Thomond Park if Munster are to overtake Sale on top of the pool table.
“We did get a bonus point on Sun- day and that might be very important for us or it mightn’t count for any- thing if we don’t turn up next week,’ he said.
“But we’re still in with a great chance. It’s going to be a massive game next week, though and it was disappointing to lose on Sunday. Every game in the group is now im- portant because we’re only half way there.”
Speaking of Munster’s poor per- formance in the second half, he said the side failed to make a serious 1m- pression at times.
“If you concede the gain line in rugby you’re going to be chasing your tail. And we did that once or twice and they punished us.”