This year should hurt more when trying to numb the pain of giving up a 17-point lead against La Rochelle in their second home, having the previous week rolled the dice with selection and failed to come up with the right numbers against Munster.
Sam Prendergast will hopefully get some game time while the World Cup unfurls in France and will not only have to sidestep tacklers but Sexton comparisons. I have a suspicion which one may prove more difficult. Munster’s growth path over the season leaves them with a different imperative when they return after the summer break. They need to build on what they have won, having taken time to lay solid foundations. While I’ll probably never go as far as to say I supported a Munster win, I am delighted that they won.
The arrival of Alex Nankivell will bring a new dimension to Munster's play. Photograph: Michael Bradley/Getty Images Players would have found themselves in one of two categories in terms of the Rugby World Cup pecking order, where you know the national coach is going to be in touch or you are hoping that he will be. I’ve been on both sides of that fence, and I much preferred being confident that I would be in the coach’s plans to having my fingers crossed from the fringes in 2003.