Club champions of Europe can add to their legend by driving tourists towards glory in South Africa according to Stephen Jones in the Sunday Times.
"Munster had eight players in the original 2009 Lions squad, as many as all of England, four times as many as Scotland, and almost all of the eight were in key positions. With the sad loss of Tomás O’Leary, who broke his left ankle playing against the Scarlets on Friday, they are down to seven but remain the core. They have an overwhelmingly crucial role to play. If the Lions win the series, then we can add individual all-time greatness to the list of Munster qualities.
"They will have none of their usual advantages, they will be way, way out of their normal comfort zone. The collective will be different, they will be playing at stadiums that make even the gleaming new Thomond Park look rather reserved and quaint, they will be exposed to the full blast of a Lions Test match, something that renders the Heineken Cup just a cosy local tiff. And they will have to dominate, not simply exist. The mental edge they have over most opposition will be absent, too. Bakkies Botha and company will give not a fig for the reputation of Munster (or of Leinster, Cardiff or anyone).
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