O'Connell expects tough opener
Paul O'Connell is anticipating a tough game when Northampton Saints travel to Thomond Park for the Heineken Cup Pool 1 contest on Saturday.
Munster failed to reach the knockout stages of the European Cup for the first time in 12 years last season and the Irish province are anxious to atone for that disappointment this time around.
Northampton, meanwhile, went all the way to the final and for the first 40 minutes looked like taking the coveted prize until Leinster fought back brilliant to claim the Heineken Cup.
O'Connell believes Northampton will be fired up for Saturday's match following their 'bitter experience' and he has warned that the Aviva Premiership side should not be taken lightly.
"It's going to be an incredibly tough game. I know what a Heineken Cup final did to us - it galvanises you even more and makes you want it even more," he said.
"When you look at their team they have class and physicality everywhere, from their front row to full back, and they will be all strong for the bitter experience from last year.
"You rarely see a team come from nowhere to win the Heineken Cup as you need to go close a few times and now they have done that."
Northampton captain Dylan Hartley has issued a similar warning to his side and he predicts the packs will prove decisive.
"Not many teams go over there and win in Limerick so there is plenty of motivation for us," he is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Mirror.
"The match will be between two powerful packs - it all starts up front - and that is an area we pride ourselves on and, as ever, we will again be looking to dominate."
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