MUNSTER marched into their 12th European Cup semi-final and if their victory wasn’t quite as emphatic as the score line might suggest, they still look well capable of winning this year’s tournament.
Depending on today’s results they will either play Saracens at the Aviva or Glasgow at Murrayfield. On current form they will fear neither.
Two very late tries at Thomond yesterday put a slightly artificial gloss on their performance but in truth Munster, despite the late withdrawal off Conor Murray and the departure to injury in the second half of Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander, controlled the game from start to finish.
It seemed all Munster in the first half yet somehow they turned around only 13-9 ahead which might have concerned a less confident team.
The game started explosively with a yellow card in the first minute when big Toulouse No.8 Francois Cros left Duncan Williams, a late replacement for Murray, sprawling with an elbow-first challenge into the sternum after the scrum-half had completed a clearance kick.
It was a needless challenge and Munster made Toulouse pay dearly by scoring ten points while they were shorthanded.
First prop John Ryan burst through from close range after good pressure for Tyler Bleyendaal to add an easy conversion and then a few moments later the Kiwi fly-half was on target with a short range penalty to extend the lead.
This story is from the April 02,2017 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 02,2017 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
