Almost perfect for Munster in Exeter

THERE’S something about the Heineken Cup that stirs the senses.

The league is the league and it’s fine as far as it goes – the Munster v Leinster derby the weekend before last was distracting enough – but it’s in Europe where dreams are made and heroes born.

The Munster legend is primarily a European affair – the famous All Blacks game in the Old Thomond Park notwithstanding – and it’s in Europe where they’ve again shown what they’re all about.

Before the game last Saturday afternoon the talk was of how a losing bonus point would be a very good result for the red men. The derby performance aside, Munster’s form on the road this year has been pretty horrible (remember that they still lost the game with Leinster, despite performing creditably).

All that considered a trip away to the English league leaders didn’t immediately seem like a promising proposition. Typically Munster made light of such sentiments and, with Joey Carbery looking ever more at home in the red of Munster, actively took the game to their hosts.

To come away from Sandy Park with two points is a really encouraging start to their campaign. The thing is though it could have been – and maybe should have been – even better. It’s a game Munster could have won if they just tightened things up a little bit more.

Too many errors – including far too many unforced – in attacking positions cost them dearly. Still it shows that Munster aren’t that far away from cutting loose. It would be helpful were they able to do so this weekend against table-toppers Gloucester in Thomond Park.