Munster banking on the 'Red Army' to make a difference against Toulouse

Thirteen months ago Munster took their best shot at Toulouse in the Champions Cup, but ultimately came up short.

The French side were simply too good for Johann van Graan's men in their Round of 16 meeting at Thomond Park in April 2021, winning 40-33 in a Champions Cup classic in Limerick.

A further season down the track, and both teams are a year older, and a year wiser.

Joey Carbery looks to be playing his best rugby since 2018, and it's no coincidence the province's attack has shone in recent weeks. There's also that extra bit of depth, players like Ben Healy, Craig Casey, Thomas Ahern and Josh Wycherley all growing into themselves as this season has progressed.

The same can be said for Toulouse, who followed up their win against Munster by going all the way and winning a fifth Heineken Cup, while completing the double by taking the French Top14 crown too.

But if there's one key difference to the take of the tape in the last 13 months: the return of spectators.

When Toulouse came to Limerick last year and outlasted Munster down the stretch, they did so against the echoes of an empty Thomond Park. On Saturday, there will be more than 30,000 - mostly Munster - fans to deal with.

With Ed Sheeran taking over Thomond Park this week, the province were left with no choice but to move their 'home' quarter-final to the Aviva Stadium, which they will also have to do should they reach a semi-final against Leinster next week.

But the fans look set to travel in their numbers, with the province confirming more than 31,000 tickets have been sold as of this morning, and Van Graan believes they can still tap into the home benefits even in the neutral setting of the Dublin.

"We believe this will go right to the very end. One other big