Qualification for what was the Heineken Cup, now the Champions Cup was long a given for Munster. This season, it is not.
After defeat to Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday night, Munster sit seventh in the PRO12 table with two games remaining. They are level on points with sixth-placed Edinburgh who they face in a crucial match a week on Friday. A week after that, they play Llanelli Scarlets, another team just above them in the table.
If Munster fail to make the top six, then it will be Challenge Cup rather than Champions Cup rugby being played at Thomond Park next season.
Challenge Cup rugby would mean Munster playing the lesser lights of the game. Connacht had to endure freezing conditions against Enisei-STM in Siberia in this year's tournament.
The possibility that Anthony Foley's men will play teams from non-top tier rugby countries is something which Brian O'Driscoll alluded to on Twitter last night.
Anyone know what Bucharest is like in December?!
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) April 16, 2016
His little jab at Munster, made in jest without any real bitterness was not well-received by everyone.
@button9279 at least you know I've a sense of humor. My turn will come...
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) April 16, 2016
@puddingnbiscuit Niamh don't take things too seriously!
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) April 16, 2016
@ChristineGarry2 isn't life about having a few laughs and sometimes you're the butt of the joke. Love when the ex Irish captain part arrives
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) April 16, 2016
@Oisin_C no 2 more years! 👍
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) April 16, 2016
Picture credit: Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE
