Ryan’s men are notoriously difficult to beat at home, yet 2006 European champions Munster boast a European Cup record that has seen them win more games - 62 - than most clubs have even played in the tournament.

That tally includes away victories over teams like Leicester and Stade Francais, confirming the immense challenge Premiership leaders Gloucester face in Saturday’s quarter-final.

Ryan said: “Munster play in a lot of different ways. They can play pressure rugby - look at the Wasps game this season, and Leicester the season before - and their game suits Heineken Cup campaigns.

“They are very physical, they have a very good kicking game and if they have to go after things, especially now with the southern hemisphere influence in their back-line of (Doug) Howlett, (Rua) Tipoki and (Lifeimi) Mafi, they can probably play a bit more than in the past.

“They’ve also got a lot of maturity.

“If you look at the nine, 10 and the second-rows, that’s world-class stuff of doing it at international and Lions levels.

“That backbone allows them to travel with some confidence.

“For them, being away from home is part and parcel of being in Europe. For us, I am pretty pleased we are at home and we need all those advantages that it might give us.”