Richards sympathetic to Munster's French mission

Leicester coach Dean Richards encapsulated Munster's European Cup semi-final pairing away to Stade Francais thus: "I pity Munster having to go over and take on Stade Francais in France.

"Stade are the favourites and rightly so but there are no easy matches at this stage. Munster wouldn't be where they are today without being a reasonable team. Stade Francais were my favourites from the outset but they're not playing in Paris."

Richards paid tribute to his side's opponents, Gloucester, citing the strength of their pack and their loyal, vocal band of supporters. The Gloucester captain, Welsh-born Kingsley Jones, would have preferred to host Munster in England. "Personally, but not as a club, I would have rather drawn Munster.

"I suppose it is because we have a strong pack and would have looked to get hold of the ball and keep it for long stages. We know that the Irish can chase and play a fast game. They have very good half backs."

"I think we would have been able to stop them a little bit. We might have been able to prevent them getting quick ball and imposing their game. Ronan's (O'Gara) a great player, super runner so we would have had to stop him from dictating the game. It wouldn't have suited them to play against a pack of our size."

The draw dictated otherwise and Gloucester must face the runaway English Premiership leaders Leicester, probably at the Madjeski Stadium or Ashton Gate, Bristol. Jones admitted: "To be honest I wouldn't fancy coming over here to play Munster and I wouldn't fancy going to France. You have got to look at the positives.

"I think it will be a very physical match. We have a lot of knowledge about each other's teams. They'll be favourites, the best side in England. I played the day we beat Leicester at Kingsholm two years ago, inflicting their third heaviest defeat ever in the league. We were very unlucky at Welford Road this year, losing in injury time; that day we scored three tries to nil. We have got some positives.

"To be honest as a Welshman, it doesn't matter to me where it's played. The plus of playing Leicester in England is that our supporters won't have far to travel and we'll have a good travelling shed and the supporters will be very vocal."