'The only thing Munster and Leinster have in common is a map' - Darren Cave

Munster may be climbing the rungs on the BKT United Rugby Championship league ladder after their 29-8 victory against the Scarlets last Saturday, but RTÉ analyst Darren Cave believes recapturing their glory days and truly rivalling or surpassing rivals Leinster remains a long way off.

That Thomond Park success marked consecutive back-to-back bonus-point wins for the province, but Cave was sceptical on their ability to challenge for top honours when quizzed on just that on RTÉ2's Against The Head.

"I don't think in the short to medium-term that's achievable for Munster Rugby," Cave said.

The former Ulster stalwart added: "The only thing Munster and Leinster have in common is a map, how close they are on a map.

"I don't see what it is about Munster Rugby that they're going to catch Leinster.

"Commercially, the club is in a worse place. The academy, off the back of the school system... We see with Leinster, it's a cycle. You get stronger, you get more games at Croke Park, you get better players.

"Whereas Munster, they're not a bad club, they're a good club. But I look at them now, fifth in the table, and I think that's about right for Munster.

"I don't think Munster are a team that should be anywhere near a Champions Cup semi-final."

While for the Munster fans, their halcyon days may be disappearing in the rearview mirror, fellow pundit Bernard Jackman clearly subscribes to the Browning quote that a man's reach should exceed his grasp.

"The day they drop their aspirations, they're finished," Jackman opined. "Munster, the great team of the noughties, they left their legacy, and that's created a level of hope and expectation.

"They might be on a downward cycle now, they might be messing around in fifth and in the last 16 of the