We give you some reasons to be optimistic as Munster set off for Clermont cauldron

Munster have been bucking trends for the best part of two decades now

As winning streaks go, 77 takes some beating. Clermont Auvergne swatted aside all challengers at Stade Marcel Michelin for the best part of five seasons and took some big scalps along the way - Toulon, Leinster, Toulouse, Munster and Leicester Tigers. Seventy sevn matches against the best Europe could throw at them (and Aironi) yet the crown never slipped. Then, on May 10, reigning Top 14 champions Castres paid a visit and proved their mettle by shocking their hosts. Clermont led 9-6 at the break but leaked 16 points and needed a late Damien Chouly try to provide them comeback hopes that were dashed five minutes later. Clermont had been blitzed out of Europe (46-6) by Saracens the week before and the Top 14 quarter-final loss was a hammer blow. They began this season with a hard-fought, 30-26 win over Bernard Jackman's Grenoble but were stunned by Montpellier two weeks later. Francois Trinh Duc, who had already landed two drop goals, held his nerve with a last minute penalty to seal a 21-20 victory. From 77-0 to 1-2, Stade Marcel Michelin was not looking so daunting any more. With Vern Cotter ensconced with the Scottish national team, following eight years with the club, the new coaching ticket of Franck Azema and Jono Gibbes needed to kick the stabilisers off and prove they could pedal with the big boys. What has followed in the past three months is a thundering return to form at home. Their latest winning run has seen them thrash Racing Métro, Lyon, La Rochelle, Stade Francais and Sale Sharks. Each victory has brought a bonus point while the points differential is a startling 191-40 over the five games. Clermont have scored 22 tries and only conceded one. And what of Munster's away form in Europe? They began the current Champions Cup campaign with a last-gasp win over Sale, secured in drop goal style by Ian Keatley. Over the five previous seasons, the two-time Heineken Cup winners have won nine and lost nine in Europe, away from Thomond Park. Their record in France since 2009/10 is played seven, won three and lost four. Reasons for optimism are fine results against Perpignan (twice) and Castres.