The match venue was Munster's first port of call when they arrived in the Basque capital at about 3pm today after a 20 minute coach journey from Biarritz Airport on deserted roads as the French and Spaniards celebrated May Day indoors.

The stadium itself will host the Real Socieadad versus Rayo Vallecdno Division 2 Championship soccer match this evening and the match tomorrow will be played on a lush grass surface as level as a billiard table.

After about 15 minutes walkabout the squad adjourned to the Hotel Costa Vasca where they had a light meal and then they were guests of the El Diario Vasco newspaper that opened their 70 seat auditorium for them to watch the Toulouse/Leinster semi-final, the newspaper laying on food and drink for the players at half time.

Reports suggest that up to 7,000 Munster supporters will pack into the Anoeta Stadium for the game tomorrow and judging by the number of locals wearing Munster shirts in the environs of the hotel, they will not lack support from some Basque who remember the team and their supporters very fondly from the last visit to this beautiful city in 2005.