It's all or nothing for Munster.

Munster face a must-win Heineken Cup clash away against Toulon on Sunday, a challenge which lock Donncha O'Callaghan is relishing.

Munster are flying high atop of the Magners League but they have yet to find their best form in Europe this season and presently lie second behind Toulon in Pool Three.

The showdown on Sunday at Stade Felix Mayol therefore presents a huge game for both sides in their bid to top the pool and in the process book a quarter-final place. Added pressure for Munster is that they have not missed out on a Heineken Cup quarter-final on their last 12 attempts.

"We're playing for our lives," O'Callaghan told the Irish Independent.

"It's a massive week, cup-final rugby.

"This is where you test yourself, this is where you want to be. People say we're not playing well, but tables reflect what we're doing. There's a huge standard expected with this team."


A 22-20 win over Glasgow at Musgrave Park will have provided a boost to O'Callaghan and his side.

"A win always puts you in good form and there was a lot of things that went really well, but our coaches will be really harsh and go through the areas where we need to improve. We'll change tack now; Europe is what it's always been about for us."

One of the areas singled out as an aspect of the Munster game which needs to improve is their scrumming, something which did not go their way in their previous Heineken Cup outing, a 19-15 loss away against the Ospreys.

"It's something we're putting huge focus on," said the Munster lock.

"We're not happy the way it's been going; we're doing an awful lot of work on it and the big thing is that you take personal responsibility for it.

The Munster scrum was much improved in Saturday's win over Glasgow, despite a couple of contentious calls from referee James Jones.

"You don't look to blame refs or calls; it is what it is at the moment and you have to have your timing right. When things don't go your way you have to be mentally tough and go back at it, which probably wasn't the case against the Ospreys when we had a disappointing scrum and backed it up with a poor one again (against Connacht). We didn't do that (against Glasgow), which is pleasing."

With Toulon this coming weekend and London Irish the week after, Munster have just two Heineken Cup games left to turn their European season around.

"This is what we love lads. The last two weeks with everything on the line. Cup final rugby, love it, reared on it - bring it on."