After a strangely subdued start to the new season, David Kelly of the Irish Independent analyses whether Munster really are in crisis.
"On the first Saturday of this year, Ulster travelled to Thomond Park and spanked Munster 37-11. Ronan O'Gara recalled the experience in his autobiography. 'The doubters and knockers had a field day,' he wrote.
"Fast forward 10 months and, despite last season's ultimate achievements in winning a Magners League and reaching the last four in Europe (still a "failure" in O'Gara's eyes), Munster have more knockers than a row of NFL cheerleaders.
"During that last winter of discontent, Munster had also lost to Connacht during the festive season and the ever-available obituaries were dusted down from the shelves and gleefully replicated by the usual punditry suspects.
"And yet, two months later, Munster produced arguably their most complete European performance when they destroyed the Ospreys in their Heineken Cup quarter-final. Their relentless assault on perfection in the guise of a League and Cup double seemed assured. It was an illusory ambition.
"That Leinster tore up the script is now history. And now the question is posed once more: Are Munster finished? Next Saturday against Ulster will provide a conveniently timed prism through which to analyse whether Munster are indeed officially immersed in crisis."
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