The Observer's Michael Alywin reports from Munster's thrilling Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Northampton.
"They will not admit it, but there seemed to be doubt circulating round Thomond Park before this one. There wasn't any after it. The roars were all the louder for the relief. Four tries did for Northampton, who despite contributing fully to another riveting quarter-final in this competition, could not quite summon the authority that fairly oozed from Munster's every pore.
"So Northampton return to England to tell the others all about life in the quarter-finals in this season's Heineken Cup. Alas, there will be no one to report back about life in the semis. It is going to be a ding-dong between the French and Irish, which may be a fair reflection of where things are in European rugby just now, but there will no doubt be prolonged wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Premiership, as well as repeated calls for a hike in the salary cap.
"But pronouncements of the decline of the Premiership should be treated warily, even if results have not gone the way of the English this year. Munster in Munster may represent a bridge too far for this young Northampton side, but they gave half the Ireland team enough of a run for their money to remain confident about the future."
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