Gamble pays off

Leinster coach Mike Ruddock has a new option when he decides to call a halt to his coaching career: he'd make a pretty good tipster. An English newspaper approached a mixture of eight players and coaches, past and present, prior to the European Cup quarter-finals, asking them to select the eventual champions.

Ruddock alone opted for Munster while five others favoured Toulouse. While both teams made it to Saturday's semi-final only the boys from Munster will be heading for the final, Ruddock's support safely tucked in their back pockets.