Stirring performance sees Munster dump Exeter out of Europe
Joey Carbery and Peter O’Mahony inspired a stirring 26-10 Heineken Champions Cup win for Munster as they knocked out 2020 champions Exeter at Thomond Park.
Chiefs travelled with a 13-8 first-leg lead, but Carbery reeled off 21 points, captain O’Mahony was the turnover king, and Damian De Allende’s 72nd-minute try booked their quarter-final place.
Back from injury, fly-half Carbery kicked two penalties and converted his own 25th-minute try as Munster – despite Conor Murray’s early sin-binning – built a 13-5 half-time lead.
Sam Maunder’s try from a quick tap was Exeter’s only first-half score, with a late Joe Simmonds penalty falling wide.
South African number eight Jacques Vermeulen drove over in the 48th minute, giving the visitors a narrow aggregate advantage.
Munster finished the stronger, though, with Carbery adding a brace of penalties before De Allende delivered the decisive blow, sealing a 34-23 aggregate victory.
Carbery split the posts with a fifth-minute penalty, yet Exeter threatened twice out wide and then used their powerful pick and drives, led by Vermeulen and Dave Ewers, to press for a try.
It duly arrived when scrum-half Maunder reacted quickest to a penalty, drew contact and reached out to score. Murray, as the initial tackler, was not back 10 metres and was promptly sin-binned.
Simmonds’ missed conversion was followed by a second penalty from Carbery, with Munster’s canny knack of winning turnovers – they had seven by the break – coming to the fore.
John Hodnett and O’Mahony both impressed at the breakdown before Carbery managed to dummy through, inside Harry Williams, for a smartly-taken converted try.
Now trailing 21-18 on aggregate, Exeter were held scoreless up to the interval as Tom O’Flaherty was thwarted by Chris Farrell and Simmonds missed from the tee.
Stuart Hogg’s injection of pace into the Chiefs attack had the forwards gaining ground on the restart. They turned down two shots at the posts before Vermeulen burrowed over with support from Ian Whitten and Alec Hepburn.
Simmonds’ conversion curled wide off the left hand post, leaving Exeter 13-10 down but ahead over the two ties (23-21). Vermeulen then increased his influence with a vital penalty win.
On the hour mark, O’Mahony drove Ewers back leading to a penalty which the wind-backed Carbery crisply nailed from 32 metres out.
Graham Rowntree's first signing as Munster head coach? 😬#MUNvEXE #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/aCPhGIcKOZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2022
Jannes Kirsten’s side-entry was also punished with another Carbery kick for 19-10, this time from just inside the Exeter half.
The wily O’Mahony secured another timely turnover, foiling a dangerous Exeter attack, and Munster continued to win the small moments with 10 minutes remaining.
Chiefs could not break down their defence and, when Munster finally found space out wide, Simon Zebo’s sumptuous offload sent De Allende over in the corner. Carbery’s conversion left Exeter with too much to do.
Comments on RugbyPass
I question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to comments