Foley counts on supporters to give Munster advantage

Gloucester are well used to playing in front of a crowd that guarantees them a 10-point start. This afternoon, they will discover what it is to perform before an audience fully capable of inflicting a 15-point deficit.

"We have to ensure that our supporters have an impact on this game," said Anthony Foley, the international No 8 who makes his 50th Heineken Cup appearance for Munster at Thomond Park. "This is no occasion for couch potatoes. We need noise."

If the Irish know a thing or two about spuds, they know even more about raising the roof on big rugby occasions.

Gloucester, the form team in England and live contenders for a home draw in the quarter-finals of the élite European competition, will not be entirely alone in Limerick, as their bad-boy folk hero turned travel agent, Mike Burton, has flown and ferried more than 600 Kingsholm die-hards across the water for this one.

But Munster, beaten Heineken finalists last season and cross-border campaigners par excellence, are drawing them in from Ballybunion in the west to the cliffs of Moher on the far side of the Shannon. There will be 12,000 souls sardined into the old ground today, and the visitors will do well to retain their sanity.

Munster have it all to do. Badly compromised in Perpignan last weekend, they must put at least four tries past Gloucester if they are to progress further in the tournament they have long set their hearts on winning. David Wallace, their crack open-side flanker, is out of the equation, as is Paul O'Connell, perhaps the most potent young lock to emerge in British Isles rugby since Martin Johnson first raised a gallop a decade ago.

But Ronan O'Gara is fit, as are Jeremy Staunton and Mick O'Driscoll. Kitchen sinks will be flying around West Country ears, along with a few cookers, dishwashers and fridge-freezers. Don't forget to duck.

"The rise and fall of Munster in the Heineken Cup is a bittersweet story," Foley said yesterday, referring to two narrow final defeats and a semi-final failure against Stade Français that measured a good nine on the scale of injustice. "But we also understand that the tournament has given players in Ireland the chance to compete on a bigger stage. We used to look in envy at the French and English clubs, and wonder how we would get on against them. Our recent success, particularly at Thomond Park, where we have beaten all-comers, has inspired a lot of young sportsmen to take up rugby rather than football or Gaelic games. They want to be O'Garas and Peter Stringers. We are fiercely proud of our achievement."

While Gloucester go in without Marcel Garvey, their exceptional young wing, James Simpson-Daniel is likely to feature, as is Jake Boer, one of the more productive overseas imports to lay claim to a Cherry and White shirt. With Perpignan enjoying a distinct mathematical advantage in the contest for a home tie in the last eight, victory is essential for both sides. One of the grandest Heineken spectaculars is in prospect.

There will be no shortage of decibels at Welford Road, either, as Leicester go in search of a home knock-out draw in front of almost 17,000 spectators, the sixth sell-out audience at the stadium this season.

Neath, just about in the tournament as a going concern but already contemplating a Celtic League final against Munster in a fortnight, are unlikely to embarrass hosts who boast Johnson, Dorian West, Franck Tournaire, Ben Kay, Martin Corry and Neil Back in their pack.

Now the injury list is beginning to shorten, the ailing champions can afford to keep Lewis Moody and Josh Kronfeld on the bench. Suddenly, they look strong again.

Should Sale somehow manage to beat Philippe Saint-André's impressive Bourgoin at Stade Pierre Rajon this afternoon – their chances do not appear particularly great in the absence of Jason Robinson, Brian Redpath, Charl Marais and Pete Anglesea – Bristol will have an even-money shot at sneaking into the knock-out stage through the back door. They recall Phil Christophers, the England wing, for tomorrow's game against Leinster.