Lansdowne an incentive for Munster

European CupNever send a man on a boy's errand. The twinkle in Frankie Sheahan's eye suggested the decision to dispense with Mick Galwey's services as Munster's representative at the draw for the Heineken European Cup semi-final brought about the desired change in fortune.

This was the sixth year - Galwey's talismanic qualities were strictly pitch related - that Munster sought a home semi-final and Sheahan delivered as the Irish province was drawn first by the Minster for Sport, John O'Donoghue, thereby guaranteeing a home semi-final at Lansdowne Road. There is the minor matter of having to beat Stade Francais in the quarter-final on April 10th, at Thomond Park (5 p.m.) first.

Munster enjoy a little history with the French side, having collided three times in the knock-out stages. The Irish province hammered them 27-10 in the quarter-final in 2000 and in 2002 produced one of the best performances in the reign of then coach Declan Kidney to pip the Parisian team 16-14 at Stade Jean Bouin in another quarter-final clash.

Stade Francais have a memory to cherish, the 2001 European Cup semi-final when they won 16-15 in Lille, when the valid try by Munster wing John O'Neill was disallowed.

Sheahan, who had a minor operation to clean out his knee and will be back in full training by the weekend, will be available for selection for Ireland's opening Six Nations Championship match against France in Paris on Saturday week. Yesterday though was about the European Cup.

"They're (Stade Francais) an excellent side who proved by winning at Leicester that Thomond Park won't hold any fears. They'll be keen to win and we won't be thinking about any semi-final. Obviously it's nice to have the incentive of a home draw if we were to win."

The same can be said for Stade Francais, who if they beat Munster would play their semi-final at "home" in France.

Canadian international and Stade second row Mike James tried to underplay his team's chances. "We were the last team to qualify. We were the worst in terms of the rankings and are playing against Munster, one of the powerhouses of European rugby. Certainly playing at home they are a formidable team and that makes it a much tougher task to go there.

"They play such a great physical style with so much passion in front of 15,000 screaming Irishmen; that could be intimidating even to the strongest of hearts. I think it will be a good game and hope it will be played in the good spirit of games past.

"I played against them in 2001 in (the semi-final in) Lille and in the quarter-final when we lost in 2002. In the first game they had a try disallowed. We had Diego (Dominguez) kicking points and I think (Ronan) O' Gara might have missed one shot at goal. That was the difference."

James was asked if he recalled Munster veterans Mick Galwey and Peter Clohessy, and was then informed they had retired. He laughed, saying: "We're kind of happy they're gone. I played against Munster with Perpignan in 1998. I played against (Peter) Clohessy and Mick (Galwey) when they were in their prime, back in the days of their early 30s."

Also present at Iveagh House for yesterday's semi-final draw was former Ireland and current Wasps coach Warren Gatland, who will plot Munster's downfall if they both make the semi-final. Wasps must first edge past Gloucester. Looking contented, he elaborated on how much he was enjoying his new job.

"You get to see club-side players on a day-to-day basis. You're seeing the progress of players over a period of time. When you're with a national team it's difficult to get the progression of coaching that you're looking for to bring players on because you don't have that contact. That's what I have enjoyed so much at Wasps.

"I'm lucky enough to have a supportive owner who doesn't interfere much. We have board meetings every couple of months that are really positive and I don't have to worry about committee things or be answerable to those sort of things.

"I don't feel like I'm in a fish bowl with the media and I feel more relaxed over here. Not having to worry about committee members and going to committee things and having to go through two or three or four people to get things passed and done has made things more enjoyable for myself. I have just re-signed for another two years and will then probably go back to New Zealand."

Gatland paid tribute to his young Irish openside Johnny O'Connor who has been earning rave reviews at Wasps. "He's outstanding. When a player is up for man of the match in every game he has to be doing something right. I was talking to Lawrence Dallaglio last week about whether we should play Paul Volley or Johnny O'Connor. He said, 'there's no decision, we have to play Johnny.' He's just been a revelation."

He described Connacht's achievement in reaching the Challenge Cup semi-finals as "fantastic," suggesting there was no reason why they couldn't beat Harlequins.

"They've (Connacht) have had a great season and I just hope the union (IRFU) come out at some stage in the next while and say that they support them to carry on."

Connacht will play the first leg of their semi-final against Harlequins at the Stoop on the weekend of April 9-11th.

EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINALS

Munster or Stade Francais

v

Wasps or Gloucester

Toulous or Edinburgh

v

Llanelli or Biarritz

Quarter-finals to be played April 9th to llth. Semi-finals to be played April 23rd-25th.

CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

Harlequins v Connacht

Bath v Mont Ferrand

First legs be played April 9th to llth. Second legs to be played April 23rd-25th.

A Munster victory against Stade Francais will mean that the semi-final will be played at Lansdowne Road.

The semi-final grounds must have a capacity in excess of 20,000. Speculation that Munster might elect to keep the match in the province by seeking permission to play the game at a GAA venue such as the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick or Páirc Uí Chaoimh appears unfounded.

The GAA Congress only takes place on Saturday, April 17th, a week before the proposed semi-finals and the programme for Congress is not yet known.

Any motions already in the public domain refer to the possible opening of Croke Park for certain events and that provincial grounds do not enter the equation.

There is no way that ERC would wait on a favourable decision, that would be longs odds against at best, until just a week before the semi-final.