Munster munch their way to Cardiff finalé
By Aidan Begley

Irish rugby is at the top of its game at the moment, especially as Munster will be taking on Biarritz later this month in the final of the Heineken Cup – rugby’s equivalent of the Champions League on May 20.
Hoards of Munster fans are set to descent on the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to see if Declan Kidney’s men can make it third time lucky and claim the top prize in European Rugby.
They booked their place in the final following an impressive victory over Leinster in the semi-final at Lansdowne Road by 30-6 thanks mainly to the boot of the ever-dependable Ronan O’Gara and a man-of-the-match performance by Paul O’Connell.
Although Leinster were on home soil in Dublin, they weren’t able to contain Munster and an early try by Denis Leamy set the tone for the Reds domination of the game.
Defeat for Leinster was a disappointment after they had secured a space in the semi-final with a shock victory away to three-times Heineken Cup winners Toulouse, but on the day, they were simply outclassed and it was Munster who advance to the final.
Biarritz secured their place in the final by defeating Bath 18-9 in the other semi-final to set up the Millennium Stadium showdown which is set to be played out in front of a full-house in Cardiff.
Looking forward to the final, Munster second row Paul O’Connell has dismissed claims that fate has decided that Munster will finally win the Heineken Cup this year, much in the same way that people feel Arsenal have their name on the Champions League trophy this season.
“The final is a great opportunity for us but it’s not our destiny – the best team will win on the day, simple as that. There is no destiny in these kind of things. It is all about producing the goods when you need to,” said O’Connell.
“On our day, maybe we can beat Biarritz, but they are an outstanding side and it should be a great contest.”
Beating Leinster came as a bittersweet moment for O’Connell who plays alongside many members of the side in the Ireland set-up.
“It was very emotional as you’re playing with best friends out there. The result is brilliant for us but you have to put it down as another game. It’s bragging rights and that’s all.
“You didn’t see any of us jumping around the field at the end of the game because we know we will have to play Leinster next year when they are sore.
“They were very gracious and that’s the way that it is. There is a good, healthy respect between the teams and that was shown during the game,” added O’Connell.
Munster coach Kidney was sympathetic to Leinster – whom he quit as coach of a year ago – saying that his side got the lucky breaks when it was needed.
“We did get the rubs of the green today at times,” admitted Kidney.
“The ball came off the post when the game was really tight and it was these kind of breaks that went for us. There was quite a stiff breeze out there and I though that we could have done with a slightly bigger lead at half-time than the 13-points that we did have.”
Kidney continued: “Luckily we held out against the Leinster backline and now we can all look forward to a great game against Biarritz in Cardiff. I’ve no doubt that it will be a tough game, but if we show the kind of determination and turn in the performance we did against Leinster, who knows what may happen?”
The performance of both the Munster and Leinster players in the Heineken Cup is set to warm the heart of Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan as he looks to select his squad that will go to Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Ultimately, O’Sullivan will have one eye on starting to select players who will represent the country in the 2007 World Cup, however, there are Autumn Internationals, along with the Six Nations next spring to contest first.
Two players who will not be involved in the Ireland set-up anymore are Ulster’s David Humphreys and Leinster’s Reggie Corrigan who have both called time on their international careers.
Fly-half Humphreys, 34, had won 72 caps and was an unused replacement during the Six Nations campaign in which Ireland won the Triple Crown.
The Ballymena man decided that covering for Ronan O’Gara until the end of the 2007 World Cup was not the most appetising of prospects.
With a young family and a career as a solicitor about to start, now was the time for him to bow out after scoring 560 points for the boys in green.
“This was not a decision that I came to lightly and I have thought about it a lot in recent months. It has been an enormous privilege to play for Ireland for 11 years but for my family and rugby reasons, now is the time to call it a day.
“I will be able to concentrate more on playing for Ulster now and it is exciting to be part of an emerging team and be able to play more rugby than I have been,” said Humphreys.
Leinster prop Corrigan retired from the International team the day after Humphreys, but will also continue to play for his club team until the end of next season.
Corrigan, 35, won 47 caps, including captaining them twice, and made his final appearance for Ireland against France in this year’s Six Nations championship.
Speaking about his decision, Corrigan said: “This is the right time for me to make this decision from a personal and professional point of view in advance of the World Cup.
“Although every professional sportsman wishes they could continue forever, I have been lucky to have a career playing the game I love,”
Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan described both men as wonderful servants to the Ireland team who will be difficult to replace.
“Reggie’s natural athleticism and strength were massive attributes to the team. He was a key member of the side and an integral part of our first Triple Crown win in 19 years in 2004 – he will go down as one of Ireland’s great front row forwards.
“I had hoped that David was going to be available for the World Cup next year. He’s a world class player and he’s still playing great rugby. It is a real shame to see him go and he will be hard to replace but I wish him all the best for his career with Ulster,” O’Sullivan said.