Magic Munster Into Semi’s

Munster and Castres are through to the semi-final of this year’s Heineken Cup. Castres defeated Montferrand 22-21 while later in the day, in an emotion charged affair, Munster defeated Stade Francais 16-14 in Stade Jean Bouin.

All the Munster points came in the first half – when they had the wind at thier backs – at the end of which they led by 16-3. It was a lead that didn’t seem enough and when Christophe Juillet crossed for a try within seven minutes of the restart, Munster looked in grave trouble.

But then the showed the courage and grit that has made them one of the best clubs sides in the world. They simply knuckled down to their task of defending that lead and although Stade whittled it down to just two points with ten minutes to go Munster played keep ball and never allowed the aristocrats of French rugby even a glimpse of the try liine. Just as importantly they held their discipline so as not to allow Diego Dominguez any opportunity to land a three pointer.

Munster scord first when Ronan O’Gara landed a penalty from wide on the left in the 6th minute and he had a simple conversion in the 19th minute when Anthony Horgan scored a marvellous try. Two more O’Gara penalties to one from Dominguez left Munster 13 poins up at the break but facing into a stiff wind.

But, with every player putting his shoulder to the wheel, they held on for a famous and a fabulous victory and a place in the semi-final for the third successive year.

STADE FRANCAIS: S Jonnet; M Williams, F Comba, N Raffault, R Poulain; D Dominguez, F Galthie; S Marconnet, M Blin, P de Villiers; D Auradou, M James; R Martin, C Juillet (capt), P Rabadan. Replacements: B August, P Lemoine, H Chaffardon, C Moni

MUNSTER: D Crotty; J Kelly, R Henderson, J Holland, A Horgan; R O’Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes; M Galwey (capt), P O’Connell; J Williams, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Horan, J Blaney, M O’Driscoll, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, M Mullins, K Keane.

Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales).