Eddie Butler hails Irish rugby's resiliant record within European club rugby ahead of Leinster's Heineken Cup final clash with Northampton at Cardiff next weekend in the Observer.
"Back in 2000, when Munster were beaten 9-8 by Northampton in the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham, there were questions about Ireland's capacity to stay alive at the top level of professional rugby. How could the Irish provinces compete with the free-spending English and French clubs? How could Munster, turning grey together, replace the old guard when they finally dropped? Oh, woe was Ireland.
"How they tricked us then and how they continue to tease the world now. Munster kept going, fuelled by the slaps of fate – or the hand of Back – on their big days out, until they won the Heineken Cup in 2006, then again in 2008. This was not merely gratification for the rugby of one corner of Ireland, because as a driving force in Europe, Munster also dragged their nearest rivals with them, until in 2009, at one of the most spectacular fiestas thrown at Croke Park or anywhere, Leinster charged past the standard-bearers, 25-9. And went on to beat Leicester in the final.
"Leinster are now the powerhouse and the questions about Ireland's rugby resources and chances of survival have evaporated. It might appear that a professional sport in a troubled economy would struggle but in hard times everybody loves a success story. As the only professional sport in Ireland rugby seems a special case, resistant to collapse."
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