Saints up for Thomond challenge
January 21 2010
Munster and Northampton Saints will meet at Thomond Park on Friday in a huge Pool1 Heineken Cup decider.
Munster are sitting pretty on top of the Pool whilst Saints need a win to ensure a direct route into the quarter-finals.
Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder claims that they are not loosing any sleep as the excitement of the build-up has kept them charged up for this all-out encounter.
"I think this match is everything you want," Mallinder told ercrugby.
"When we saw the draw we knew it would be difficult, but what we did want to do was play ourselves into a position where come Round 6 we had something to play for - and we have managed to do that so that is satisfying."
Both teams achieved bonus point wins in recent times setting the scene for a
winner-takes-all match.
"We are going on the back of a good run - I think we are unbeaten in nine or 10 games - and that is very encouraging," said Mallinder
"But we also know it is going to be very, very tough. We watched Munster's Round 6 game and they are playing very well.
"However, so are we and we will take a lot of confidence from that and concentrate on our own game this week and go over there with both confidence and belief.
"Yes, there has been a lot of talk about our young England players and questions asked are they good enough to play international rugby.
"Well I don't think you get any closer to playing international rugby than going over to Munster and if those lads have any aspirations of playing for England then they need to put in a performance on Friday night.
"All the lads know it is a massive game and even before the Perpignan match we were thinking about Munster and the Round 6 game.
"We felt we could beat Perpignan at home so we already had Munster on our minds."