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Error ridden Munster turfed out of Champions Cup by Bordeaux
By PA
Munster’s hopes of winning a third Investec Champions Cup came to an end after a 47-29 quarter-final defeat to Bordeaux at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
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Having knocked out La Rochelle in the round of 16 with a dramatic 25-24 victory, the Irish province – winners in 2006 and 2008 – were unable to repeat the trick.
Bordeaux, who eliminated Ulster to advance to the last eight, ran in six tries and now face Toulon or defending champions Toulouse as they attempt to reach the final for the first time.
Munster made the worst possible start when Damian Penaud went over for Bordeaux in the fifth minute, although Matthieu Jalibert struck a post with the conversion.
It doing so, Penaud broke the record for the number of tries in a Champions Cup campaign, his 12th seeing him surpass Chris Ashton’s tally of 11 in 2017.
Irish fly-half Jack Crowley, who this week signed a two-year contract extension with Munster to end speculation over a move to Leicester, kicked a penalty shortly afterwards.
Jalibert responded with a penalty of his own before Bordeaux added a further two tries by the 24th minute, the France international converting scores from Maxime Lucu and Pete Samu, the impressive Penaud playing a big part in both.
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Relentless Bordeaux pressure resulted in a penalty, which Jalibert put wide, but he did convert a fourth try by the French side from Jon Echegaray.
Munster finished the half strongly and they got a try just before the break through Alex Nankivell.
The New Zealand-born centre, cleared to play after a successful appeal against his two-game ban for his red card against Connacht in the United Rugby Championship last month, went over from close range with Crowley adding the extras.
After Jalibert missed a penalty, Munster reduced the arrears when Andrew Smith crossed, although Crowley was unable to add the extras.
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Jalibert kicked two penalties either side of a Maxime Lamothe try before Munster were awarded a penalty try for a deliberate knock on and then Smith claimed his second try of the game, Crowley converting.
Bordeaux had Cyril Cazeaux sent off late on but there was still time for Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score, which Lucu converted.
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