The contrast between the fortunes of Munster and Leinster last weekend in the Heineken Cup was put into sharp perspective by the scenes at the end of their respective matches against Newport and Edinburgh Reivers. As I left the Rodney Parade ground on Saturday evening after yet another magnificent performance from Munster, hundreds of supporters were still on the pitch.

Once more this truly remarkable Munster side had given another "hour of glory" and naturally their supporters were in celebratory mood. There is, too, a very tangible bond between this team and their supporters. That has been very evident. Prior to the match there was an understandable apprehension. Munster were facing a team that contained internationals from seven countries with Newport on their own formidable soil, and a team that had to win to keep their European Cup hopes alive.

But just as there is incredible belief in the Munster team and an unquenchable spirit, there is also a confidence among the supporters that the team would again do the province and Irish rugby proud. Once more Munster has given Irish rugby a tremendous lift.

It was a great team performance and a majestic display from outhalf Ronan O'Gara. The accord between the team and the supporters has been nurtured on achievement and there is a spirit in the side that is like a closely knit club community.

It is what exists in club rugby in Limerick, a huge sense of commitment and passion, akin to the parish ethic that is so pronounced in hurling and gaelic fooball and which has been and continues to be one of the great strengths of the GAA. In victory or defeat Munster support does not wilt.

Last Friday in Donnybrook, after Leinster had lost what had been a commanding and should have been a winning lead, the ground at the end of the match was a sombre setting. Fourteen points up after 14 minutes, the product of two excellent tries, 21-3 ahead after 24 minutes and 24-9 at the break, Leinster failed to build on such favourable positions.

That the Reivers were much the better side in the second half and undoubtedly deserve credit for their fight-back. But after the lead was cut to 27-17, Leinster gained a tremendous lift 14 minutes from the end when Leo Cullen got a try and Brian O'Meara converted to leave his side leading 34-17 with less than a quarter of an hour to go.

Here was a winning position if ever there was one. What happened next and subsequently was a total failure to close down the game. The Leinster tactics in the final phase of the game played into the hands of the opposition. The defensive kicking was appalling and time after time Reivers ran the ball back at Leinster and kept them under pressure. In the end the home side was extremely fortunate to get a draw.

Nor did I feel that Leinster got the necessary level of support from a capacity crowd. There seemed to be an air of resignation among the crowd as the match was slipping away.

And I do not accept that the lay-off between the last competitive match that Leinster played and the match last Friday was the reason for what happened in the second half. These are professional players training on a daily basis. They had played Munster in a warm-up match a week previously and that match was no friendly stroll and the feeling afterwards in both camps was that it was very beneficial. I honestly believe that Leinster's failure was more spiritual than physical.

Furthermore it might have helped Leinster, too, had some of their players played for their clubs in AIL matches from which they had not been disbarred by the national coach.

Munster went into the match with Newport against the very same background as Leinster played Edinburgh. Now contrast what happened? Munster stand 15-0 down after 19 minutes. Crisis time as Newport are in full-cry. Munster cut that deficit to 15-10 and then go 21-10 down by the interval.

In the second half Munster set about their business in a manner that was a very clear declaration of intent. They were by far the better side in that second period and never lost their focus or concentration. There was a job to be done, do it they did. They scored 29 points in to Newport's three.

There was a lesson there for Leinster. This is a talented Leinster team but one that has a fear factor, lacks an essential core of steel and self-belief. Those attributes must be harnessed to the undoubted skill level in the team. Fortune has favoured Leinster in that Northampton beat Biarritz last weekend. Now Leinster go to Biarritz this weekend with a place in the quarter final cup the prize. Leinster must get a least a draw to top the group. The incentive could not be greater. This is the chance for Leinster to deliver and make their talents pay. Let us hope they do.

Two representatives in the quarter final of the Heineken Cup, out of three original entrants, would be great for Irish rugby. Meanwhile Musgrave Park tomorrow will be throbbing as Muster face Castres and a win will give Munster a home quarter-final tie.