Munster edge Toulon 20-19 in epic quarter final

“To go to places that other teams are not prepared to go” That was the mantra at the start of the week and never was it truer than in Munster’s epic 20-19 win over a star studded Toulon side at Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon.

Adjectives couldn’t do it justice; pride, passion, commitment, bravery and teamwork, yet a unique piece of brilliance carried the day. This was a European game for the ages, an epic to go alongside Gloucester, Sale, Toulouse et al.

The visitors kicked off and an early TMO decision saw Chris Ashton’s appeals fall flat as he was adjudged to have knocked on, it was a 5 metre scrum for the home side but Toulon laid down the first big marker of their intentions when they forced a penalty from the scrum and went for the corner.

A superb steal form O’Mahony saw Munster clear their lines. Toulon set well from the lineout and worked the ball to the right with some good carries. Simon Zebo looked to have given Tusiova too much room on the outside, only for Andrew Conway to step in with a try saving tackle.

Munster cleared but Toulon were still deep in their twenty two and were making their maul a priority gaining some good yards. There were worrying signs early on as Toulon owned the ball for the opening 6 minutes.

As was the case in recent weeks, Munster didn’t start well and a lazy penalty for not rolling away presented a second chance of points for the visitors. This time, Belleau opted for the posts and his kick drew first blood for the French side. It was just reward for a dominating opening ten minutes.

Toulon then retuned the favour with a carbon copy infringement but Munster turned down the attempt at points for the corner. The lineout was secured but the maul broke down. After a series of short carries, Stander was forced into touch and the attack came to naught.

Munster again fell foul of Nigel Owens at the ruck and Belleau this time opted for the corner. Munster disrupted the lineout but Toulon were quicker to the loose ball and after another concerted period of pressure, Belleau dropped back in the pocket and slotted a drop goal to extend the lead to six points.

The importance of starting well would have been instilled during the week but it didn’t happen. Second best in the aerial battle, struggling at the breakdown and starved of territory and possession. The departure of Simon Zebo on twenty five minutes did little to brighten the mood of a nervous Thomond Park crowd.

Two minutes later and a deft chip ahead from Keatley saw Conway come close to grounding but Toulon managed to gather possession and looked set to clear. A knock on at the base of the ruck allowed Conor Murray to pick the ball and place it down for the most cheeky of tries. All this after an interminable conference with the TMO which seemed to last an eternity.

Keatley was bang on the mark with the extras and Munster led by two. The lead was obviously important but crucially it ignited the crowd. Another aerial bomb this time saw Toulon under pressure, failing to gather. A kick ahead from Sweetnam saw the Corkman tackled after he played the ball. The result was a chance for Keatley to extend the lead. As soon as it left the tee, the East Stand faithful told you all you needed to know. 10-6 Munster.

Munster were now starting to find parity at the breakdown and when Toulon killed the ball, Conor Murray’s long range effort got caught up in the wind and dropped short. Toulon cleared but the home side were finally staring to find their feet.

One area that Munster had been imperious in was the lineout but in defence but especially in attack. Another fine take saw the maul pulled down and the penalty was dispatched deep inside the Toulon twenty two. An odd decision to box kick halted the attack as Toulon gathered.

The French side had two clear try scoring opportunities inside the last two minutes of the half but what can only be described as some heroic tackling saw one chance go a begging for a knock on and the other tackled into touch.

Toulon were going to come out with a point to prove in the second forty minutes so it was imperative that Munster had a solid ten minutes. Keatley dropped back in the pocked for an early drop goal attempt but it faded wide. Not the worst option with Toulon to kick back into a significant wind.

It was going to be harder for the visitors to clear their lines via the boot in the second half. Munster negotiated the first ten minutes of the half well with Conor Murray even managing to steal a Toulon lineout.

The lead was slender but every tackle, ruck, maul, lineout and play was greeted with a roaring crowd who knew just how close this game was. Keatley retreated to the pocket again, this time to launch a superb kick behind Tuisova and into touch five metres out.

Toulon cleared but Munster were playing smart rugby and more importantly smart rugby in the right areas of the park. The 52nd minute mark saw the front row reshuffle as Johann van Grann replaced numbers 1-3.

One mintue later and the new boys dismantled the Toulon scrum just outside the twenty two. Keatley landed the kick to make it 13-6 to Munster. Breathing space of sorts.

Finally Toulon managed to get some ball and with Munster in all sorts of trouble out wide, Darren Sweetnam somehow managed to force the knock on from Radradra who looked all but certain to score. It was a huge let off for the home side.

Toulon did make the pressure count in the 60th mintue when Munster were penalised for collapsing the maul. The newly introduced Trinh-Duc slotted the kick to cut the deficit to just four points.

The visitors were now staring to take a toll in the midfield and an offload to Bastareaud blew the defence wide open and a slick offload put Chris Ashton under the posts. The conversion made and Munster now trailed 16-13.

Worse was to come a minute later when Nigel Owens penalised the home side for not releasing at the breakdown and Trinh-Duc nailed the penalty to make it 19-13.

Munster were now in a deep hole with just twelve minutes to dig themselves out. A poor restart gave the ball back to Toulon and Munster were once again struggling to get the ball.

A superb effort from the pack disrupted a Toulon scrum and won possession. Owens pick up some lazy runners and the Keatley wasted not time in dispatching the ball to touch. The lineout was secured but Munster were held up. 5 metre scrum and go again.

Toulon were superb in defence and cleared but crucially not into touch. Conway gathered and in the next ten seconds, the winger etched himself into Munster folklore with a mazey run that left Toulon defenders trailing in his wake to finish under the posts. Keatley added the extras and Munster held the slenderest of leads.

The remaining three minutes were fraught with unbearable tension as the visitors hovered on the Munster ten metre line and in borderline drop goal territory and certainly at the mercy of penalty decision.

A penalty decision did come but it was for men in red as Toulon were punished for holding on. Thomond Park erupted as the ball was dispatched to touch. Bordeaux beckons.

 

 

 

 

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