Fizzing Four-Try Performance Not Enough For Munster

Despite two tries each from Keith Earls and Gavin Coombes, Munster were knocked out of the Heineken Champions Cup by a Toulouse side that flourished during a final-quarter surge.

France star Antoine Dupont came alive during the closing quarter-of-an-hour at a sunny Thomond Park, touching down twice to supplement Romain Ntamack’s 20 points from the tee.

With Damian de Allende impressing, Munster led by seven points on three separate occasions – including at half-time (16-9) courtesy of two Earls tries – but their season could not be salvaged.

A week on from their deflating Guinness PRO14 final loss to Leinster, Johann van Graan’s men were rocked when Chris Farrell was sin-binned for a third-minute trip on Cheslin Kolbe. Ntamack kicked the three points.

Tadhg Beirne’s effectiveness at the breakdown steadied Munster, and after Ntamack missed a long-range kick, Joey Carbery levelled from inside Toulouse’s 22.

Ntamack made it 6-3 from a 17th-minute tap-over penalty, having threatened from a kick return, but Munster enjoyed the big moments in the second quarter.

Springbok centre de Allende created the 24th-minute opening for Earls to cut inside Maxime Medard and ground the ball in the left corner, past Selevasio Tolofua.

De Allende was soon galloping through midfield, following a well-won Coombes turnover, and Conor Murray passed wide for Earls to claim his second try in three minutes.

Carbery failed with both conversions, and although Ntamack brought it back to 13-9, a Carbery penalty restored the seven-point difference at the break.

Toulouse were on top when the second half begun, their power and pace forcing Munster backwards – minus the injured Beirne – and Ntamack’s pinpoint 42nd-minute kick put winger Matthis Lebel over.

The touchline conversion was superbly struck by Ntamack, wiping out Munster’s lead, only for a Niall Scannell turnover – and a Murray snipe – to put the home side right back into scoring range.

Big flanker Coombes delivered the goods, driving low from a tap penalty to muscle over. Following TMO confirmation, Carbery converted for a 23-16 scoreline.

For the remaining half-an-hour, though, it was Toulouse who went through the gears. They used a close-in penalty to set up captain Julien Marchand to smash over for seven points beside the posts.

Replacement JJ Hanrahan kicked Munster back in front at 26-23, before a Pita Ahki and Lebel-led break sent the supporting Dupont in behind the posts for a crucial 67th-minute converted try.

Ntamack was successful with the second of two penalty attempts to make it 33-26, and Dupont produced another dagger to Munster hearts, scampering through for a 76th-minute try that had a long deliberation to rule out a knock-on.

It was an important score as the Munstermen pulled one back past the 80-minute mark, Coombes crossing from close range after a Peato Mauvaka yellow card.

While post-match tributes were paid to retiring duo CJ Stander, who made his 50th Champions Cup appearance, and Billy Holland, Munster head coach van Graan was understandably proud of the team performance.

“Firstly, all 23 of our guys gave it their all,” he said. “It’s very disappointing to lose an incredible game of rugby but I am incredibly proud of the lads today. We gave it our best shot and we literally came up short by one try.

“We went for the try (with penalty advantage at 23-all), on the forward pass, I think it was from Keith to Andrew (Conway) and we got three points. Hopefully we would have got seven there.

“I think that was a big swing there because there were a lot of seven-pointers. But give credit where credit is due, well done to Toulouse.”

Van Graan added: “I thought their replacements did well but I thought ours did too. They’ve got such an amount of power. I think we handled their scrum exceptionally well. That’s where they get a lot of access against teams to go to the corner.

“Plus, I felt we stuck to the task of stopping their maul, their five-yard opportunities and the try that they scored off that lineout, I don’t think Billy could go more to his right than he did.”