Munster will open their 2010/2011 Heineken Cup campaign in London when they take on London Irish (Saturday October 9th, 5.45pm) at the Madejski Stadium. Share
It will be the first time for Munster and London Irish to meet in the competition and although the Madejski was the stadium nominated for the tie when the fixtures were announced this afternoon, there is the possibility that London Irish will look at the possibility of using Twickenham for this most attractive fixture.
A week after that London trip, Munster welcome Toulon to Limerick and Thomond Park Stadium (3.30pm kick off) for what is sure to be a sell out game against the star studded French outfit who were surprisingly beaten in the Amlin Challenge Cup final by Cardiff in May.

In the past, the back-to-back December matches have proved central to club's progress and Munster play Magners League champions Ospreys twice in the space of six days, at home in Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday December 12th (1pm) followed by the trip to Swansea for the return the following Saturday (3.30pm).

All in all a very demanding programme with no easy matches, a fact recognised by Munster coach Tony McGahan, "First and foremost," he said, " we recognise the quality of the opposition we face in our Pool. There are no weak sides, each of them I believe, well capable of winning the competition, certainly all well capable of getting results on the road.

In terms of how the fixtures have fallen McGahan continued, " Home advantage is important but can also bring it's own pressures particularly in round one but London Irish will prove a massive challenge. They were just edged out of a place in the play offs last season and prior to that lost narrowly in the semi final.

"Toulon represent a little bit of an unknown quantity in the respect that we've never played them before. We've seen plenty of them and it's probably better to get them in Limerick first up.

"Back to back against the Ospreys, first game at home in Thomond Park ? They won there last time and will travel in confidence. In reality however, any one of the four sides in this group is capable of winning the competition."



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