Payne pensive after Pool draw

Payne watched on as Munster were drawn in Pool 1 with French Championship finalists ASM Clermont Auverge, two-time European Challenge Cup winners Sale Sharks and Heineken Cup new comers Montauban.

And despite their number one European ranking, Payne says that his team find themselves in one of the trickier pools to progress from,

"There is not an easy Pool anywhere and perhaps we are in one of the more difficult ones," he said. "Getting two French teams was a bit of a stinger.

"Of course, we know Clermont Auvergne very well following last season. They are going to be immense games, both home and away. There is a lot of history between ourselves and Sale Sharks, while Montauban are an unknown quantity. We will have to do a lot of homework on them."

Reigning champions Munster met ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Pool stages last season, winning at home and gaining a losing bonus point away. They also lost to Sale Sharks in the opening Pool match of the 2005/06 tournament, although triumphed in the return match. In both years the Heineken Cup found its way to Munster despite those Pool defeats.

Debutants Montauban, who are coached by 1997 Heineken Cup winner Laurent Travers, will become the 55th team to play in the tournament. They are the second French side in Pool 1.

And Travers could barely contain his delight at the prospect of pitting his wits against the finest Europe has to offer. "This is it for us - we have dreamed of the Heineken Cup for so long and now we have it," he said.

"And what a Pool!," he continue, "We will have the chance of measuring ourselves against the current European champions, the former English champions and possibly this year's French champions.

"It is going to be enormously difficult for us but what an amazing opportunity for our players to experience the highest level of club rugby and to line up against teams who are almost totally made up of international players. This can only continue the evolution of our club. Fabulous!"