O'Connell knows Munster still have work to do

The four-times finalists may well be the only team left in the tournament with a 100% record after notching their fourth straight win in Pool 1 over the Scarlets last weekend, but 16 points are not enough to secure a last eight spot.

Next up for O'Connell's men are Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in Round 5, when a bonus point win would be enough to earn them top place and a 13th visit to the knock-out phase of Europe's top rugby club competition.

O'Connell knows almost all there is to know about the knock-out phase of the Heineken Cup having featured in seven quarter-finals, six semi-finals and three finals during his 62 match career.

"We know as well as anyone how tight the games have been. We need to keep our heads down and make sure we fight for everything again in early January," he said after the 19-13 win over the Scarlets.

"It's hard to say where the Pool is at the moment. With four wins from four games you would think we'd been really dominant, but every game has been very tight.

"There hasn't been much of a winning margin in any of them and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves because everyone is capable of beating everyone else.

"Just look at what Castres did to Northampton and don't forget that Northampton nearly won the tournament last season."

Paul O'Connell's Heineken Cup Knock-Out Record

Q-F S-F Final
01/02 Won Won Won
02/03 Won Lost
03/04 Won Lost
04/05 Lost
05/06 Won Won Won
07/08 Won Won Won
08/09 Won Lost