Munster still too streetwise

Even rugby people at the sharp end of the game who've reached saturation point after this most intensive of seasonal starts will tune in on Saturday. You sense the debate has rarely raged to this extent over a domestic squabble. Is this Leinster's time or will Munster remain top dogs?

Even neutrals from the other provinces who might normally cast only a passing nod toward the Celtic League final at Lansdowne Road are intrigued by this particular contest. Eric Elwood encapsulates the conundrum that is Saturday's final as well as anyone.

"You'd have to say that the form side is Leinster," says the Connacht outhalf assertively. "Matty (Williams) has got the right people in, (Keith) Gleeson is doing a superb job at number seven and (Nathan) Spooner is running the show. They've got quality backs, as we always knew, but now their forwards have really come good.

"Defensively they're superb. They don't leak tries, they work hard and they keep their lines, and they're brimming with confidence," adds Elwood.

"But I would never back against Munster. Even though Leinster have won 13 games in a row, are the form side and are a settled side, I wouldn't even bet your money against Munster.

"They're so streetwise. They've been there and I know they have injuries but they have the old heads. When the s*** hits the fan, they come strong in the last quarter and grind out results. It'll be tight but I fancy Munster."

His long-time Ulster counterpart David Humphreys, who has been on the losing side against both finalists this season, admits that the showdown is the talk of the Ulster camp.

"I know it sounds ridiculous but it really is a hugely difficult game to call. Leinster are probably the form team in Europe. They're a fantastic team playing brilliantly at the minute. But then you look at Munster's record over the last few seasons and they're always winning tight games.

"It's going to be a very, very close game and I don't know which way to call it."

For Leinster to win, the Irish outhalf says: "They've got to stop (Peter) Clohessy, (Mick) Galwey and the rest slowing down their ball. If Leinster do get quick ball they'll pose some serious problems for the Munster defence. Don't get me wrong, the Munster backs are very good, but the Leinster backs are probably the best unit in Europe and can cut any team to ribbons."

For Munster to win, Humphreys adds: "They've got to play their normal game. It's a high pressure game which makes them almost impossible to play against. They don't have any real weaknesses."

"I'm looking forward to it," admits Humphreys, but were he offered a free £100 bet for charity, he would back "a draw".

His Ulster team-mate Gary Longwell, asked the same question, reluctantly plumps for Leinster, "because they're probably the best team in Europe at the moment".

Their coach, Alan Solomons, speaks of the sharp "contrast in styles" but declines to predict the result, merely stating that "the decisive factor will be whoever gets the edge up front."

Like many, the Ulster manager Joey Miles describes it as "an intriguing game" and observes that "it will be a real test of the tenacity of the Leinter pack. If Leinster get in behind Munster they could do damage but will they get the ball and will the Leinster pack be up to the challenge?

"This is the real acid test for their pack and particularly a big match test of their younger players."

Forecasting the outcome is another matter. "I think I'd like Leinster to win because they're playing a good brand of rugby," admits Miles. "But it's very difficult to call. Whoever wins there'll be nothing in it. But I hope the Irish rugby public support it better than they did the semi-finals, the Leinster public in particular."