This weekend's Heineken Cup semi final between Munster & Leinster at Croke Park will be an absolutely amazing game. The stadium will be a sell out, with a possible world record crowd in attendance, and is sure to be absolutely buzzing long before kick off.
I remember Wasps playing Munster at Landsdowne Road in the semi finals in 2004 - it was a sensational occasion and probably one of the best atmospheres I have ever seen, and one of the greatest games in Heineken Cup history. Munster vs Leinster has the potential to be another unbelievable semi final.
Munster have to be classed as one of the best club rugby sides in the world at the moment, having carefully built a winning ethos both on and off the pitch. There is culture that has been created around the club, much like at Wasps a few years ago, and this has seen them achieve continued excellence. It's not something that can be built overnight but they have enjoyed a period of sustained success for the last decade, not least from a Heineken Cup point of view.
On the playing side, they have strength in depth and have nurtured new, young talent to come through the ranks, such as Keith Earls who is in such fine form at the moment and was rewarded with a Lions call up last week. They have put together a team full of stars, many home-grown, such as Paul O'Connell, Doncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace.
Alongside this, they have developed a strong commercial platform and structure off the pitch, which is an example to many other rugby clubs, and have grown a loyal, passionate fan base.
It's a formula from which the SRU may well be able to learn as they search to build the next chapter in Scottish Rugby. It isn't easy to replicate what they've done but it's certainly worth looking at what the key ingredients might be.
Good coaches are an absolute must, as is a good foundation, both at grass roots level and through the playing squad. Munster have also bought into a strong structure and a consistent level of success - which begins first and foremost with the performance on the pitch. Every time Munster pull on the jersey, they never let themselves down, and the team and rugby club have grown from this.
In terms of the result on Saturday, I can't see Leinster having enough to stop Munster reaching their second successive final and I make them favourites for the whole competition.
Kenny Logan is a Heineken ambassador. Heineken, the premium continental bier, have been proud sponsors of the Heineken Cup since 1995. To win VIP tickets to this year's final at Murrayfield, please visit www.heinekenrugby.co.uk.
