With a little over one week before the 13th Heineken Cup Final kicks-off in Cardiff, the hype surrounding the whole event is beginning to build. This will be Munster's fourth appearance at this stage of the competition in the last nine seasons.

It's a phenomenal achievement by any standards and a record only matched by one other side in Europe, their opponents in this year's showpiece Toulouse. The French side are the most decorated side in the competition and if Declan Kidney's side are to harbour any thoughts of regaining the crown, then they must perform in a ruthless and efficient manner. Possession will be key, but it's how the province will perform when they are without the ball, that will shape the outcome of the game.

Over the last five years, Munster have become masters at frustrating the opposition. Slowing the ball down at the set-piece and at the breakdown severely diminishes a side's ability to attack. Messrs Quinlan, Leamy and O'Callaghan will attempt to disrupt Toulouse at every turn. Likewise in midfield Rua Tipoki and Lifeimi Mafi have become experts at turning the ball over in the tackle. Like most French sides, Toulouse play best with open spaces and time to manoeuvre. Close down the space and restrict their ability to throw the ball around and you will severely limit their capability to do damage on the scoreboard. Mistakes will occur and frustration will come into play and this will allow Paul O'Connell and co to turn the tie in their favour. Few sides in Europe possess the talents to suffocate the opposition like Munster do and if they replicate their Gloucester performance from the quarter-final then chances are that Toulouse may well implode.

As soon as the final whistle sounds, it may be bitter sweet thoughts for coach Declan Kidney. Having returned to coach the province in 2005, the Corkman finally led his side to European glory in Cardiff two years ago. Following the well-documented departure of Eddie O'Sullivan from the Irish role two months ago, Kidney was finally announced as successor a little over a week ago. His emergence as the number one choice was a combination of an impressive CV, coupled with a host of other big names distancing themselves from the job. His promotion to the national side is just-desserts for a man that has succeeded at all coaching levels within Irish rugby. From schools, through under-age and right up to provincial, Kidney has succeeded with each of his teams. However his toughest test now lies ahead as he looks to repair the damage inflicted on the national side by the recent disappoints both in the World Cup and the subsequent Six Nations.

From a provincial perspective, the appointment could not have come at a worse time. Kidney's departure will leave a huge void within the set-up, not to mention the fact that his defensive coach Tony McGahan may also depart and join up with the Irish squad. Munster are currently poised in a delicate situation. They have discovered a staggering amount of new talent over the past twelve months, namely Tipoki, Mafi and Doug Howlett along with local players such as Denis Hurley, Tomas O'Leary and Donncha Ryan. However, many of their front-line stars are now nearing the end of their careers. Over the next eighteen months, replacements must be found for the likes of John Hayes, Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan and Shaun Payne. With Marcus Horan, David Wallace, Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara also in their thirties, the province's new coach must unearth emerging talent immediately.

Munster now play a rather unique brand of rugby. Coupled with their aggressive, sometimes semi-legal, interpretations of the breakdown they now also possess a high-risk, attack-from-all-areas armoury. Continuity is now the name of the game and many of the players nearing the end of their careers are integral to the entire equation. Whoever is charged with taking over from Kidney will be faced with a difficult dilemma. Do they stamp their own unique ideas upon a squad who are now used to playing a certain style of rugby, or do they instead maintain a status quo and look to replace individuals as they retire or move on. Munster are arguably one of the biggest brands in world rugby at present, but a couple of seasons of underachievement and all that could change very quickly.

Everybody loves a winner, but nobody remembers the loser. The result against Toulouse on Saturday week could well define the fortunes of the province over the next decade and beyond.

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