Munster coach Alan Gaffney last night called for clarification on Heineken Cup qualification ahead of Saturday's crunch clash against Gloucester in Limerick. Even if they beat the English Premiership leaders, Munster could still finish third in Pool Two and miss out on a last-eight place.
The six group winners and two best runners-up will progress, but Gaffney has queried the tournament definition of "runners-up".
If Munster finish third they are likely to have a better record than all other sides, apart from the six pool winners and the team filling second place in their group.
Heineken Cup handbook competition rules refer to best-placed runners-up, but do not state that a team cannot go through from third place. A potential three-way tie in their pool means Munster, Gloucester and Perpignan could finish the weekend on eight points, provided Munster beat Gloucester and Perpignan defeat Viadana.
An ERC spokesman said runners-up meant runners-up, and the two non-group winners going through to the quarter-finals would be the sides which finish second in their respective pools.
Meanwhile, Gaffney has named a 24-player squad for Saturday's game against Gloucester at 2.45 (not 4.0 as stated on the ticket) in Thomond Park. With several players carrying injuries from the clash with Perpignan, Gaffney will wait until tomorrow morning at the earliest before announcing his side.
"We'll have a look at them all tomorrow in Cork and be in a better position then to assess the situation," said Gaffney, who preferred not to enter into the various qualification possibilities.
"We're looking to win the game, simple as that. We feel they owe something to themselves and the supporters who travelled to France last week, so hopefully they can make up for that disappointment."
"But they know they face a huge task against one of the strongest squads in the competition. The pity is after the result we are now playing for our lives instead of perhaps a home quarterfinal. That's what defeat means. But this is the sort of challenge this Munster team love and I think it's going to be a fantastic occasion.
The main injury worries surround Ronan O'Gara (bruised ribs), Jeremy Staunton (leg) and Mick O'Driscoll (toe).
Meanwhile, while Eric Elwood last week called for the media not to heap pressure on his young Connacht side each time they set foot on the pitch, it is difficult, given Connacht's perilous position in IRFU thinking, not to believe Saturday's second-leg game against Pontypridd will have more ramifications than mere progress or defeat in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.
Coach Steph Nel has kept faith with the side that pushed the Welsh side to the final whistle last week in front of a record 5,000 crowd in Athlone. Nel brings back just one player, number eight John O'Sullivan. The back row would have been included in the first leg but was benched due to injury.
The clash, at Sardis Road in Pontypridd on Saturday (5.30), also forces a positional change, and with O'Sullivan's return Colm Rigney switches to blindside flanker. Rigney had a particularly strong game at number eight last week, scoring one of Connacht's crucial tries in the first half.
There are two changes on the replacements bench, with Michael Swift, who started at number six last week, included there, while winger Ted Robinson also returns from injury.
Pontypridd will definitely be without centre pairing Sonny Parker and Jon Bryant, injured early in the game in Athlone. Parker broke a bone in his forearm, while Bryant pulled his hamstring.
Both teams have uncertain futures. Pontypridd have come under intense pressure to enter into an unlikely and unwanted merger with arch-rivals Cardiff. Negotiations between the premiership clubs and the WRU continue this week, with a final decision on the future structure of the game expected soon.
As a result of the threatened decommissioning of the Connacht team, a large crowd is expected to travel and those interested in purchasing tickets in advance for what is expected to be a sell-out 8,000 strong crowd should contact Connacht travel agent Pearse Keller. Terrace tickets for the match in the covered stand cost £10. Supporters can also purchase tickets directly from the Pontypridd club.
Leinster will announce their team tomorrow to face Bristol at the Memorial stadium. Matt Williams' main concern is over second row Leo Cullen, who damaged a calf muscle prior to the win over Swansea.
MUNSTER SQUAD: J Staunton, K Keane, J Kelly, J Holland, M Mullins, M Lawlor, C McMahon, D Malone, M Prendergast, P Stringer, R O'Gara, M Horan, M Cahill, J Blaney, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, M Galwey, D O'Callaghan, D Leamy, E Halvey, J Williams, A Quinlan, A Foley.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, S Moore (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, J Flannery, P Bracken; D Browne, R Frost; C Rigney, J O'Sullivan, J O'Connor. Replacements: D McFarland, M Uijs, M Swift, E Peters, C Keane, J Norton, T Robinson.
