RUGBY ANALYST:Home advantage a huge advantage for Munster as they aim to set record straight, writes LIAM TOLAND

I RECEIVED AN email from a friend of mine during the week: “Don’t give me quotations, tell me what you feel.” I retort through the words of Roman Stoic philosopher Luscious Anneals Senega and sometime advisor to Emperor Nero, who best puts it so Vir Es, suspect, Etain si accident, magna comments – better understood as “If thou art a man, admire those who attempt great things, even though they fail”. Tonight, one of the protagonists will fail but that shouldn’t prevent either set of supporters admiring the fallen foe. These two great teams deserve better.

I hope to look at tonight’s game in its 80-minute entirety and ignore the cultural occasion afforded both the players and their legion of fans. Much, too, has been mooted regarding the ever-growing rival armies from the South and the East. Have we all lost the run of ourselves? Thankfully with Leinster’s brilliant win in Croke Park and subsequent Heineken Cup win that rubbish argument can now be binned forever.

In the distant past, Leinster have always been aware of the reasons for not winning the big encounters. Put simply, Leinster always wanted to play rugby, creating try-scoring opportunities for their wingers to exploit. Over the years Munster were more than happy to allow Leinster play, make errors and pounce. Then in 2001 it all fell into place for Leinster; a beautiful blend between the power pack and pacey backs. Paul Wallace at tighthead was immense. Then it all went horribly wrong in Lansdowne Road in 2006; and again in Croke Park for Munster last year. This fixture has a nasty habit of teaching major lessons and it has proved even-handed for hungry students from both camps.

Leinster, and particularly the Australian management, have learnt from their first visit to Cork in October of 2005. Five years ago Leinster conceded five tries that left the score 33-9 in favour of Munster. Those lessons have been heard loud and clear, hence Leinster’s meaty pack tonight. CJ van der Linde is critical to both competitions and Stan Wright adds real weight and oomph so Cian Healy loses out. Against Connacht last week, Wright was very impressive around the ball.

It is a massive night for Devin Toner, but I wonder does Leo Cullen have full confidence in him. Paul O’Connell is a huge loss to the fixture but Mick O’Driscoll will severely test Toner. I expect Cullen to manage the four targets he has with variety; lineout advantage Leinster. The scrum is most interesting, as an advantage here for Leinster will afford Rob Kearney a real opportunity with both ball in hand and boot.

Then there’s Alan Quinlan and Nathan Hines. Blood is thicker than water, but there’s no one quite as thick as tonight’s number sixes. I’m not questioning their intelligence but their contribution around the ruck, the referee and the ruaille buaille. Tonight’s backrows includes one blindside, one secondrow, one number eight and three opensides.

Leinster have better balance but Munster have better speed, which, considering their potential backline advantage, hints at how Munster may approach tonight. Tactically Leinster will make much of the set piece, allowing Jonny Sexton and Kearney to pummel the corners.

Obviously O’Driscoll and O’Connell will be enormous losses. For both teams, going into Thomond Park without the likes of Kevin McLaughlin, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls and Denis Leamy will not help. But Shane Horgan and Seán O’Brien’s absence is the hardest to estimate. Both Horgan and O’Brien would trouble the Munster midfield and bring the required double team tackle that’s needed to soak up Munster defenders.

In their absence Jean de Villiers has a big chance to build on his display against Glasgow. I’m still not convinced de Villiers is a good thing for Munster, especially facing a fast-paced offence. D’Arcy must nail him dead.

The breakdown continues to influence rugby in the Northern Hemisphere post the Six Nations fiasco. The Magners League have made a major gaffe in appointing Toulousian Romain Poite, the former police officer to officiate his first ever Magners League match. That is all the players need in tonight’s battle; another take on the breakdown. Why isn’t Alain Rolland togging out?

Cardiff Blues entertained Ulster last Friday night and for the first time the cut-and-thrust of Magners League rugby was absent. The defending side abdicated any responsibility at the breakdown. In doing so the team in possession were guaranteed quick ruck ball as the defenders put a maximum of one player into the ruck. Unfortunately they faced a very packed defence with 14 defenders lined out in front. The quick ball was an advantage but the packed defence a major disadvantage.

There are match-ups all over the pitch especially at 10. Ronan O’Gara has a new- found fizz which should propel Lifeimi Mafi at 13. Hence Rob Kearney’s inside shoulder remains a worry as it showed in the RDS last Saturday. Connacht’s Fionn Carr managed to get inside Kearney on two occasions. Firstly on the way to his opening try. Secondly and far more cheekily was in the second half when Carr once again turned a hopeless ball into a real threat. He sprinted infield from the touchline and his pace rooted Kearney to the spot. The latter’s blushes were spared by Eoin O’Malley’s covering tackle. That said Kearney is working very hard to force his form. This will prove extremely important to both Leinster and Ireland but in Thomond Park trying too hard in attack can be dangerous.

In sum, with massive meat in their pack, Leinster will dominate the tight exchanges but home advantage and their outside backs should tip the balance for Munster.

Finally, there is some European Cup homework for those interested. Stade Francais entertain Clermont Auvergne this Saturday. Their exciting backline contains Brock James. A word of warning: he has a nasty habit of clocking up three-pointers, be it placed or drop goals. A little less informative will be Leeds Carnegie entertaining Northampton. Keep an eye out for fullback Ben Foden and ask yourself would you like him running around your backyard next week?