Munster Suffer Painful Defeat In Paris

Two late penalties saw Racing Metro 92 close out a famous 22-17 triumph over former Heineken Cup champions Munster in difficult conditions in Paris.

The hugely influential Olly Barkley, who finished with 14 points, and Mirco Bergamasco landed a penalty apiece in the final four minutes to ensure a losing start to Pool 1 for the province.

It was a real Jekyll and Hyde performance from Rob Penney’s men in the first half, their positive start on a muddy Stade de France pitch being clouded by the concession of 13 unanswered points.

Sean Dougall crowned his first European appearance with a 15th minute try and five points from Ronan O’Gara’s right boot had them 10-0 clear.

Barkley opened Racing’s account with a penalty and after the returning Paul O’Connell was inches away from a try, Munster suddenly lost their way.

A sloppy try scored by Maxime Machenaud got Racing level and with a hamstring injury forcing O’Gara off, his opposite number Barkley kicked his new club into a 13-10 half-time lead.

The second half was a scrappy affair dominated by the forwards. Barkley landed the first of two penalty attempts to edge Racing closer to their first ever home Heineken Cup win.

Ian Keatley missed a penalty before Simon Zebo gave Munster a lifeline with a fine try from a quickly taken lineout. Keatley converted from wide on the left to make it 17-16 to the men in red.

However, Conor Murray gave away a costly penalty after electing to run the ball rather than kick to touch. Barkley sent the ball between the posts and a final penalty from Bergamasco, who kicked while Barkley received treatment, confirmed the Frenchmen as victors.

O’Connell’s seasonal debut seemed to inspire a brutish beginning from the Munster pack, their cohesive driving and set piece play laying down an early marker.

Racing’s beefier forwards had to endure a set of scrums near their try-line before Munster settled for a shot at the posts. O’Gara duly slotted the ninth minute kick.

Recent signing Barkley had Juan Martin Hernandez outside him, the Argentinian a late call-up for hamstring injury victim Fabrice Estebanez.

They look unsettled as Keatley and Zebo sent well-weighted kicks in behind them on the damp surface.

From a subsequent lineout, Munster struck for their first try as Peter O’Mahony carried first before Dougall bounced off Machenaud’s challenge and was driven over under the posts.

O’Gara’s conversion was cancelled out by a thumping penalty from Barkley as Racing began to find some rhythm, with Hernandez’s good hands releasing Julien Jane for a midfield run.

Agonisingly for Munster, the ball slipped from O’Connell’s grasp as he lunged for the whitewash and the two-time cup winners then handed Racing a gift of a try.

Doug Howlett spilled a pass from O’Gara, Keatley was unable to gather the loose ball and two hacks through from Jacques Cronje and Machenaud led to the latter touching down.

Despite doubts over the grounding, television match official Trevor Fisher confirmed the try and Barkley’s conversion brought the hosts level at 10-10.

Munster suffered a further setback when talisman O’Gara hobbled off, prompting the introduction of Denis Hurley at full-back and Keatley’s move to out-half.

Keatley had to react sharply to prevent a second try, clearing up after Karim Ghezal got in the way of a Casey Laulala clearance. The resulting spell of pressure yielded a second successful penalty from Barkley, putting Racing ahead for the break.

The England international added a superbly struck penalty 11 minutes into the second half, as Racing continued to play with increased belief and commitment.

Barkley missed an easier kick soon after, and Munster clawed back some territory as Zebo prodded the ball into space and their forwards worked the ball through the phases.

But Munster were being outnumbered at the breakdown and Racing defended with greater width as a couple of Hurley-led counters were thwarted.

Keatley slid a difficult penalty to the right of the target as the game descended into a tense dogfight, the tactical kicking of the half-backs becoming all the more important.

Barkley was winning that battle, keeping a frustrated Munster pinned back. But out of nowhere Zebo slalomed through the Racing defence to score, getting away from Bergamasco and Jane on a darting run to the left corner.

Keatley’s fine conversion from the left had the province within touching distance of the victory, but Murray’s infringement proved crucial as Barkley kept his cool. Bergamasco’s last-minute penalty added insult to injury for Munster.