Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

The Heineken Cup is underway so winter can’t be far behind, despite our unseasonably warm weather. Emmet Moloney writes...

Even without the weather, it will be hot enough in Limerick this Saturday when Toulon come to town – a team traditionally made for the Thomond Park cauldron, with an English out-half, Felipe Contepomi in the back line and some potentially “fragile” players in the red hot furnace that is Heineken Cup day in Limerick.

Across the water, Leinster run out in Wembley to take on Saracens – a game they would traditionally fall down in, but no more. They are made of sterner stuff these days.

After week one, we revert to the Heineken Cup ways of old, writing off Munster and talking up Leinster. It’s the road less travelled. Munster looked toothless and Leinster rattled off 38 points and scored some dazzling tries. It’s a trap that rugby fans have been falling into for years. But one of these years they are going to be right. This could be the year.

I was struck by the negativity of Munster supporters in the aftermath of last Saturday’s valiant defeat at the hands of London Irish. It seems everyone has written them off already as a team in decline and most are pointing to Leinster are Ireland’s standard bearers in the competition this winter. (Ulster cannot be written off either, having recruited almost exclusively from the southern hemisphere, they have a toughness about them this season.)

There is validity in these opinions. But over 24 hours this weekend that could all change. Munster could grind out their usual home win, while Leinster could be rolled over in Wembley. Come next Monday morning, the Men in Red could be sitting pretty on top of their group while Jamie Heaslip and friends could be nursing their wounds.

Things change that quickly in the Heineken Cup. That is what makes it compulsive. However, the problem in Munster is that things haven’t really changed at all.

There is a great comparison to be made between our two leading provinces. Answer this question: how many internationals playing for Munster and Leinster right now can be considered to be at the peak of their careers? Think about it. Who do we have at the top of their game right now, in form and at the right age?

The answer is frightening for loyal followers of Munster. For those of you in the blue half of the country, the future is much brighter. Jamie Heaslip is coming into his own and will shortly assume the mantle of Ireland’s most important pack member. Meanwhile, Johnny Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Eoin Reddan are hitting their stride. Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy have been there for a while but are still top-class and in Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien, we have potential Irish stars of the next World Cup.

Look south now and grimace. On the bench for Munster sat David Wallace, Marcus Horan, Mick O’Driscoll and John Hayes. Warriors one and all. Men who gave to the cause. All over 30. Perhaps a strong case could be made for Tony Buckley, Niall Ronan and Johne Murphy at full-back, who all started, but outside of the dynamic Keith Earls, Munster’s conveyor belt looks a little light on quality. International quality.

This is where Munster have erred in recent years. The replenishment process has stuttered and, as a result, there is some stagnation ahead.

We can’t be too critical of the policies that allowed this to happen, because Munster haven’t let the grass grow under their feet. Over the past five years, they have only won two Heineken Cups and transformed their stadium into a modern, crowd friendly, revenue-generating fortress. So let’s give them a break and stay with them.

They will, no matter what 15 they put out on the pitch, always punch a little above their weight. A bonus point last week was absolutely crucial. They lost no ground in the group as a result and could still win it by winning all their home games and with some smart collection of bonus points.

They will have their work cut out. Their spiritual leader is still absent and concerns over his long-term future will affect the year. Paul O’Connell is not the only one facing into his defining year as a rugby player, but he might be the most important from an Irish perspective. Come the new year, the 2011 Rugby World Cup will start to assume serious importance for the provinces and player availability and priorities will change. We need to see O’Connell on a field sooner rather than later.

This Saturday is one of those perfect Thomond days. Jonny Wilkinson and a star-studded Toulon side arrive for their lesson in Munster rugby. We’re a little down, they’re a little up. Sky Sports will start saying this could be a day that, shock of shocks, Munster could be beaten at home. We’ll beat them. And we’ll enjoy it. Happy days.

Leinster must be fed up with people like this punter questioning their character. We have no right; they have proven themselves beyond doubt. But then here comes an away game against a team they should beat and the only certainty is that they will struggle to do so. Saracens are not the strongest of the English sides in the competition but they have to be beaten. The “Lions” are the strongest Irish team and are coming, thanks to Munster, into a bit of form right now.

It was that Munster match in the Aviva that tuned Leinster in. The swagger the winners took from that match carried into the first weekend of the Heineken Cup. It’s something they need to keep in their game. Few teams can play with that healthy arrogance but Leinster have the personnel and game plan to carry it off.

An Irish double, with Ulster facing a reality check in Biarritz.

PS: It would be remiss of any rugby column written in the world this past week not to mention the passing of Moss Keane. They bandy the word legend around these days like it’s confetti, but Moss Keane earned his legendary status both on and off the field. A great friend of the Farmers Journal, Moss was unique in that he managed to live something akin to the perfect sporting life, in that he seemed to get back almost as much as he put in. They just don’t make them like that anymore. Slán, Moss.

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