European journey begins again

Following last weekend's dress-rehearsal against the Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park will get its first real taste of top-class rugby when Montauban visit Limerick on Friday night. The Heineken Cup is back on the menu and the reigning champions will be keen to kick-start their campaign with an accomplished performance.

While the conditions were far from ideal last Saturday evening, Munster will be anxious to improve on their all-round play, especially with the ball in hand.

Too many unforced errors almost resulted in a shock home-defeat and coach Tony McGahan will alarmed at his side's sudden inability to dominate proceedings. Continuity has been the key to Munster's success this season, yet the Warriors were able to disrupt this pattern of play with relative ease last weekend.

Intelligent off-loads and aggression at the breakdown are two areas which will need to improve if Paul O'Connell and co hope to see off the challenge of the newcomers on the European scene.

Montauban

Situated thirty minutes outside of Toulouse, Montauban is not a name that most Irish rugby followers will be familiar with.

They qualified for this season's competition courtesy of a seventh-place finish in last year's French 14.

Like many of the smaller sides within the French set-up, they will place greater resources at succeeding in their domestic league than they will at progressing in Europe.

Nonetheless, they originate from a proud rugby playing community and they will see this weekend's fixture as the ultimate test of their powers.

Playing in your first ever Heineken Cup game against the current champions is daunting enough, however when you consider that this game will also take place in one of the world's most intimidating rugby venues one may begin to feel sorry for these relative novices.

However, Montauban are more than capable of looking after themselves. On more than one occasion last season, this side proved capable of upsetting the odds.

Impressive victories over Toulouse and Stade Francais, were also followed up with wins against Biarritz and Perpignan. Friday night's game will be seen as just another level that must be achieved.