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  The standards have gone up all around Europe and it's harder now than ever to win the Heineken Cup, but I don't think there are many in Munster who would be prepared to settle for good semi-final displays being enough. I feel the next two seasons are absolutely crucial for [Munster]. There is a danger that with things having improved, it now reaches a plateau. But that can't be as good as it gets. There needs to be progress, big progress in the next couple of seasons if Munster are to be a force. The time has almost come for Anthony Foley to take centre stage in Munster with [Rob Penney]'s departure DIARMUID GREENE/SPORTSFILE

A JOURNEY which began in the sunshine in La Rochelle almost two years ago will end tonight in Glasgow unless Munster can buck the trend and become the first side to win an away semi-final in the Pro12. Munster and Glasgow are in their fourth semi-final, the Scots have lost all three they've played so far, while the Reds won their home semi-final against Ospreys in 2011, but lost away to [Leinster] a year earlier and to Ospreys in 2012.

  \"It's an expansive game for the weather we play in, so it's exciting rugby each week and it's not just trucking-up rugby. It's testing the guys'skills and bringing out the best of you.\" \" And a 13 option? \"Yeah, potentially,\" concedes [Rob Penney]. \"He's had a few runs there, certainly long-term I'd envisage that would be the case.\" \"I'\"I'm not blaming injuries, because that's stupid stuff. I'll just keep on working hard to be the best I can. I want to make a difference when I get the ball in my hand.\"

  \"But I was rapt to see the passion and the parochialism still there,\" [Rob Penney] said. \"It's beyond anything that's in New Zealand and they've all been such fantastic occasions, whether they've been home or away, to be a part of. \"The people are passionate about them and the parochialism and the bias and the chanting is just what you want at an event. The event isn't necessarily just about the game of rugby, it's about turning up and being proud of your people and supporting your people and enjoying yourself in the grandstand. New Zealand's lost a bit of that and it's just fantastic to be a part of it up here.\"

  Left: Peter O'[Mahony], [MUNSTER] Player of the Year Conor Murray and Irish Independent Editor Claire Grady. Above: Cian Bohane, Gerhard van den Heever and Simon Zebo. Inset: Paul O'Connell and [Rob Penney]. DARAGH MCSWEENEY/PROVISION The past 18 months has witnessed a transformation of Munster's squad with the retirement and departure of a number of legendary players including Ronan O'Gara, Marcus Horan and Doug Howlett. Tributes were also paid to Niall Ronan (31), who confirmed he has now decided to retire following a serious injury which required surgery and lengthy rehab. However, the retirements have been offset by the emergence of a galaxy of young Munster stars including Tommy O'Donnell, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo.

He carried no luggage and, it also seemed, he was incapable of relaying any meaning to us as to why his Munster side had imploded against Toulon, rendering so relatively comfortable the defending champions'passage to another final. He was too disappointed to speak, we were told - \"Ah, that was just Fiona the press girl being nice!\" he smiles now. The smile may have returned; the disappointment still sears deeply. At 34, he doesn't know how many more chances there might be to dine at Europe's top table. \"I'\"I'm sure plenty of the lads will be saying that they'll have a few more shots at this, which is a thing you say after you've played badly perhaps. It's just that I don't know how many opportunities I'll have to play in another Heineken Cup semi-final. \"There are times when it's really, really effective, so I think we've all learned a lot from the Rob Penney era and it's been beneficial to Munster rugby.\"

  \"They need a bit of a hand-up, but let's keep it real as well. There is a lot of work going on in the other three unions -- Connacht just seem to get it a little easier. If they're able to recruit players at the level that they've signed, then I'd just wonder if it's the right thing for Irish rugby. \"There are a lot of good Irish lads who are just not getting access -- we've got some in our environment and I'm sure Ulster and Leinster have as well. Scrum-half Cathal Sheridan returned to training yesterday, but the end of Donnacha Ryan's injury problems does not appear close as he continues to rehabilitate his foot injury alongside Mike Sherry, Barry O'[Mahony] and Dave O'Callaghan (all knee).

  \"Having been here for a couple of years the frustration is around their ability to fund those new recruits. What's it doing for Irish rugby? All the other provinces are obligated to have X amount or limited players at their disposal in terms of overseas or ineligible [for Ireland] players except Connacht who have obviously got a bit of a hand-up. \"They need a bit of a hand-up, but let's keep it real as well. There is a lot of work going on in the other three unions, Connacht just seem to get it a little easier,\" said [Rob Penney]. \"If they're able to recruit players at the level that they've signed, then I'd just wonder if it's the right thing for Irish rugby. There are a lot of good Irish lads who are just not getting access, we've got some in our environment and I'm sure Ulster and Leinster have as well.

[Rob Penney] also confirmed that there are no late injury worries, although Andrew Conway and Paddy Butler travelled with the squad as cover. \"Everyone has woken up today in good nick, so from that end we are in good shape,\" said Penney, who said he himself would love to play in the stadium, which is in the final stages of a EUR 267m redevelopment. \"To captain Munster at any stage is a huge honour,\" he said. \"To captain Munster at this stage of the competition is a huge honour, very humbling considering the group that is in it. It is an exciting day for me and my family, but, captain or not, it doesn't take away from the task at hand. It is still a semi-final and that is the way it will be treated.\"

  Nothing emphasises the scale of their challenge than Toulon's one change from the team that beat Leinster 29-14 in the quarter-finals, with David Smith being replaced by Bryan Habana. For their part, Munster bring CJ Stander and Sean Dougall in for the injured skipper Peter O'Mahony and the unlucky Tommy O'Donnell, who drops to the bench, with this game coming just too soon for Donnacha Ryan. Toulon have a greater collection of World Cup winners and global stars. Yet with [Munster], all the more so on these grand occasions, the whole always adds up to more than the sum of their parts. If Munster 'grenade the rucks', push up and smash anything in sight and bring real intensity - as we know they can - and be more accurate with the ball than [Leinster], then they have a fighter's chance. Betting: (Paddy Powers) 1/4 Toulon, 25/1 Draw, 10/3 Munster. Handicap odds (Munster +8pts) 10/11 Toulon, 18/1 Draw, 11/10 Munster.