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`Pool of Death' gets serious as Munster and Wasps face off

The "Pool of Death" European Cup rugby match between 2006 champions Munster and present holders Wasps tomorrow will be just that -- a do or die clash.

Many will feel that the tournament will lose a lot of its gloss with one of them bowing out and lesser lights like London Irish and Perpignan -- the latter likely seizing one of the two best runners-up spots on offer -- benefiting from a weak pool and progressing.

However, the die had been cast way back with the original draw and no seeding system and the simple fact is that if either side is to make the last eight then they have to win.

Wasps kept their hopes alive with victory over a hapless Llanelli side last weekend while Munster -- who trail the English giants by three points -- lost away at crack French side Clermont, but grabbed what could turn out to be a vital defensive bonus point and all but sounded the death knell on their French rivals' chances.

Nevertheless Wasps know how tough a task it is going to be to beat Munster at Thomond Park where only Leicester -- last season -- have won in the tournament's history. Also, the Irish province are desperate for revenge after they lost 24-23 in controversial fashion to the English side earlier in the competition.

No-one among the Wasps squad realizes that more than Irish international scrumhalf Eoin Reddan, who used to play for Munster before crossing the Irish Sea as he failed to dislodge Peter Stringer from the starting line-up -- though he managed to do that during Ireland's catastrophic World Cup campaign last year.

"The Munster fans make sure there is an incredible atmosphere at Thomond Park and so it is essential you keep your head and be clinical," Reddan said.

"But while it is in our hands as group leaders, it is a huge ask. We will need to come up with our best performance of the season on Saturday," he said.

Munster, who should have All Black tryscoring record holder Doug Howlett in the starting line-up, are also under no illusions of what they have to do, according to veteran Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan.

"This was always going to be the crunch game of the pool so we have had plenty of time to prepare mentally for it -- we just need to make sure we keep our focus," Quinlan said.

"Wasps will come with a lot of confidence -- they're a quality side but we are at home and we will be looking forward to it," he said.

While Munster can entertain real hope of squeezing into the last eight at Wasps' expense, the same cannot be said of their great Irish rivals Leinster, whose future in this season's edition hangs by a thread.

While Leinster kept their hopes alive with a deserved win over three-time champions Toulouse last weekend, they have left themselves probably too much to do as they host two-time champions Leicester.
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