It's almost with a sense of dij` vu that Munster players and supporters alike look to Saturday's game in Thomond Park. Never mind that the opposition is, on recent form, the best of British if not in fact, the best of European club rugby. Forget that Munster, after the embarrassment of Kingsholm just twelve months ago, tied the game last week a try apiece. And forget about the two good wins, and nine points from a possible ten so far. Because incredibly, Munster are looking down the barrel of a gun after that defeat in Kingsholm. And why ? Well loads of reasons, like Edinburgh performing heroically in Pool 2, Mike Ruddock's Dragons confounding all predictions in Pool 1, Cardiff adopting Romanian club form in Pool 3, the Celts performing like real Warriors in the Pool 6 game against Gatland's Wasps, Leinster throwing Sale a lifeline, Pool 3 again, and ............ Munster failing to gain a bonus in their Pool 5 game with Gloucester. Oh and of course, Ulster, dumping first Stade Francais and then Leicester Tigers in Pool 1 Ravenhill clashes. See how it should have worked out was this. First the pools with the Italian sides should have delivered the best runner-up which meant Perpignan and London Wasps through from Pool 6: Gloucester and Munster through from Pool 5; old reliables Llanelli - sorry Llanelli Scarlets - from Pool 4; Leinster Lions winner all right in Pool 3; Toulouse by a distance in Pool 2 and after a dogfight, moneybags Stade Francais to edge out Leicester Tigers in Pool 1. Grand job. Quarter final home draw for the holders Toulouse in number one spot. Number two would be Leinster Lions who forgot they had to play a semi-final before they'd be allowed win the final last year. In third spot Stade (please God don't give us Munster again) Francais and in fourth Gloucester, rather than Perpignan, (the Chelsea of this year's competition). Round one went to script, except in Rodney Parade where Ruddock's Dragons scorched Solomon's White Knights and except in Scotland where the Gunners totally lost the run of themselves and beat Brennan's boy's, Toulouse. Elsewhere it was as you like it; Munster ground it out in Bourgoin; Biarritz came to Dublin for the shopping and forgot about the game against Leinster and in Paris an official shot Leicester in the foot then handed the shotgun to a Leicester player who shot off their other foot. No huge surprises in Round Two. Guzziani's Go Go Dancers went went went in Ravenhill, but Ulster went much better. Leinster did a Munster in Cardiff substituting grunt 'n grit for fast 'n fancy. Anthony Foley maintained his position as Munster's leading scorer running in two against Treviso and in the re-enactment of, "there'll always be an Engoland" Leicester set the (rugby) record right with a clear decision win over those Welsh upstarts from Went, sorry Gwent.

And then in Round Three it all went sort of, pear-shaped. See this is what was choreographed. Edinburgh v Leeds - Who cares Llanelli Harlots - sorry Scarlets. Llanelli versus an Aging side? Sharks to the slaughter in Dublin Anything to happen in Kingsholm - but mainly to Munster for the their miracle audacity Paisley to steal the headlines in Ravenhill and Ulster a point if they're lucky And after that ? Toulouse at home to three teams (Neath Swansea & The Ospreys ? ) - cinq point pour l'equipe de Guy Noves et aussi a Biiarritz against les Bleues d'Cardiff. Northampton v The Who - Gimme Five for the Saints Treviso v Bourgoin - Arravederci Treviso and finally Perpignanski at home to Calvisano - Yeh right.

Except Well, the rot started on Friday in Lansdowne Road - yeh, yeh, we know - what an appropriate place etc etc - and all that and continued unabated on Saturday when Treviso hammered the children Bourgoin sent out to play; the Saints failed to gain a bonus against the Borders and Munster failed likewise in Kingsholm But it was the Sabbath when the cat was set amongst the pigeons with three extraordinary results. Well two extraordinary results and one almost incredible scoreline. Whether the Reverend Ian intended to put a hex on or not, someone one did and they put it on the Leicester who ran onto the Ravenhill pitch as Tigers and slinked off some eighty odd minutes later cuffed and cowed, the journey pointless. Over in Wales Ruddock's Rodney Parade unbeaten record held up against Stade Francais and in London Warren Gatland's all-singing, all dancing Wasps had the sting taken out of them by the Celtic Warriors. So thanks to all that it means Munster and Leinster after impressive starts are in danger of dropping out of contention while Ulster who didn't have the best of starts are smack bang back in contention. It's going to be a cracking weekend with full houses in Limerick, Manchester and Welford Road as the Irish sides continue to win the hearts and minds of the rugby public