Munster overpower Toulouse to reach Champions Cup semis
Munster marched into the European Champions Cup semi-finals, overpowering Toulouse with a 41-16 win at Thomond Park.
The hosts came into the contest boasting seven wins in eight home European quarter-finals and made a rapid start, aided by a foolish yellow card for Francois Cros, with a fifth-minute try from John Ryan.
Toulouse have endured a miserable Top 14 campaign and they were second best here also, Thierry Dusautoir ultimately playing what is expected to be his final European game.
After Toulouse clung on in the first half, a storming start to the second and a CJ Stander try looked to have put Munster in command, but a controversial Paul Perez score checked any premature celebrations.
Duncan Williams, in place of Conor Murray, and Simon Zebo routinely provided an excellent platform to build upon, with Tyler Bleyendaal keeping Munster’s noses in front with accurate work from the tee, and they eventually wore Toulouse down with Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway capping a deserved win.
Wow… #SUAF #MUNvTOU pic.twitter.com/yvXzrkKtc2
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 1, 2017
Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and Stander limped out of the game, and they may need to add a clinical edge with Glasgow Warriors or reigning champions Saracens lined up as semi-final opponents.
The likely return of Murray should aid in that respect. The Ireland scrum-half was ruled out after a late fitness test on his injured shoulder, although his replacement Williams enjoyed a fine outing and was involved right from the off.
Williams was caught by Cros’ elbow as he booted clear from a ruck in the first minute, earning the Toulouse number eight a yellow card and throwing them into disarray.
The resulting penalty was sent to the corner and quick ball from Munster left Toulouse chasing shadows before John Ryan barrelled over. Bleyendaal followed up his conversion with a penalty and Munster’s set-piece dominance was displayed by two line-out steals from O’Mahony in the opening 15 minutes.
Jean-Marc Doussain and Bleyendaal traded scores from the tee before the Frenchmen were forced to settle for another penalty after Gael Fickou just ran out of space to dot down Doussain’s clever kick.
Bleyendaal was denied a try by the TMO – Donnacha Ryan’s basketball-style pass in the build-up deserved more – and O’Mahony’s knock-on just before the interval allowed Doussain to add a third penalty, which sent the sides in at the break with Munster only ahead 13-9.
With the wind and a raucous crowd behind them, Munster surged away at the start of the second half. Bleyendaal’s 50-metre penalty – set up by Zebo and Williams driving up the gut – preceded Stander squirting over after clever maul play.
There was no time for Munster to rest on their laurels, as Yoann Maestri’s fine break put Perez away, referee JP Doyle refusing calls from the home crowd to overturn the decision due to a lack of evidence that the lock’s pass had gone forwards.
FULL TIME: @MunsterRugby’s 157th match in the competition is a successful one and they progress into the semi-finals pic.twitter.com/iJW5VHA4GJ
— Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 1, 2017
Doussain passed on points from a penalty and Toulouse’s subsequent failure to break through cost them as Munster ran away late on.
Bleyendaal’s fifth penalty eased the tension and he ended the day having scored eight from nine with the boot after Sweetnam and Conway nipped through tired Toulouse ranks to add gloss to the victory.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments