Written by Eoin Harte
Alan Quinlan doubts whether the quality of rugby being played in the English Premiership prepares sides well enough for the Champions Cup.
"I think [Exeter] got a bit shell shocked by the intensity Munster brought in round one," Quinlan said on Friday’s OTB AM.
"They talk about the Premiership being the best league in the world. It’s a very intense league, there’s no doubt about that but sometimes I don’t know if the quality is there."
Munster take on Exeter in the last round of the Champions Cup tomorrow at Thomond Park and while they are favourites, Exeter are not to be taken for granted.
"I sense that this is a kind of throw the kitchen sink at it and hope for the best. They’re not expected to win and that makes them quite dangerous," Quinlan noted.
Ruaidhri O’Connor was also in studio and was confident Munster would get the win.
"If they’re anywhere near as good as they were last week, I think they’ll get the job done at home," O’Connor said.
Leinster and Ulster are also in action in the Champions Cup at the weekend, with both making trips to the English midlands, playing Wasps and Leicester Tigers respectively.
"I just can’t see any reason why Wasps will beat them.They’re way out of the running," O'Connor said.
"They’ve had a week of losing players, signing players, they just seem to be lost at sea."
Leicester have also had a poor run of results in recent times, despite have some quality international players, such as Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua.
While Ulster are expected to win, the Tigers have the ability to put the northern province’s quarter final hopes in serious jeopardy.
"I think Geordan Murphy [Leicester Tigers coach] will be targeting this," O’Connor stated.
"They want a springboard into their next couple of weeks."
Connacht are also in action this weekend, taking on Bordeaux-Begles in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
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