It feels like it's been a while.
That post Six Nations lull was tough last year with no Irish team in the Champions Cup quarter final. Sure, we had Connacht's incredible Pro 12 run to rouse us, but there's nothing quite like the Heineken European Rugby Champions Cup.
This year, we're back to where we belong. Munster and Leinster both topped their respective groups and have exciting home quarter finals to be played back to back tomorrow afternoon. Leinster will face Premiership leaders Wasps at the Aviva Stadium at 3.15pm before Munster take on an out of form Toulouse at Thomond Park at 5.45pm. (You can have a look at the form of the Irish teams' two opponents here.)
Munster team to play Toulouse:
Internationals @SimonZebo @KEITHEARLS87 @ConorMurray_9 @CJStander @DonnachaRyan back for #MUNvTOU#EuropeReturns https://t.co/uTDYgUI7cl pic.twitter.com/lzMBfLhDIZ
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) March 31, 2017
Luckily, and unusually coming so soon after such an attritional Six Nations, Munster don't have two many injury worries to deal with and have named a very strong team for tomorrow's game.
The big news for Munster is that Conor Murray has been passed fit to play after the elbow injury that ruled him out of the England game in Dublin.
Munster's backline looks particularly strong with the coaching team opting to play without a specialist replacement out-half and load the bench with Francis Saili and Andrew Conway. Should Tyler Bleyendaal be forced off, Rory Scannell will stand in at out-half. Keith Earls and Simon Zebo both were guaranteed starters for Ireland during the Six Nations and come back into the team. Conway, who was called up for the England game and obvious preferred by Joe Schmidt to Darren Sweetnam, is in great form and it's an very good side for Munster to have someone of that quality and form on the bench.
Leinster team to play Wasps:
TEAM NEWS: A number of @IrishRugby internationals return from #6Nations duty to start against Wasps. #LEIvWAS pic.twitter.com/8LKCDoMexE
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 31, 2017
Things aren't as straight forward for Leinster who lost Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip in the Six Nations, and are still without Sean Cronin.
It is still a strong team though with Ireland's 10-12-13 partnership of Sexton, Henshaw and Ringrose all returning to the team. Joey Carberry is also back fit and starts at fullback in the absence of Kearney.
In the pack, Dan Leavy, fresh off his surprise Six Nations debut two weeks ago is picked at 6, while Jack Conan takes Jamie Heaslip's Number 8 jersey.
