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
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments