Munster 9
Clermont 16
THE CLOSING MINUTES told a tale of what had come before.
Clermont’s oppressive defence continued to flood forward, hammering Munster ball carriers backwards, eating up the metres. The sublime Fritz Lee and his back row partners got their hands in to slow possession. Stifling.
Anthony Foley’s side had one final attempt to grab a draw, but the Clermont line-out stole it in the air through Damien Chouly to condemn Munster to a first-ever Thomond Park defeat to French opposition.
Errors pockmarked the home side’s display, with several costly knock-ons inside the Clermont 22 and from promising maul situations. This loss leaves Munster facing an uphill battle to advance from Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, particularly with a trip to Clermont’s intimidating Stade Marcel-Michelin to come next weekend.
Clermont enjoyed a fully-deserved 16-6 advantage at the break, having harried Munster into a sloppy 40-minute showing. From the moment Aurélien Rougerie claimed Camille Lopez’s kick-off, Foley’s men were under intense pressure.
Fritz Lee was over the whitewash for Clermont’s first try with just a minute on the clock, bouncing back to the right from the tail of a five-metre maul and finding little in the way of Munster resistance.
Lopez was wide with his conversion and then made a poor connection with a penalty attempt minutes later. Both sides looked to use the boot in open play early on, although Lopez and Clermont were the more impressive in that regard.
Peter O’Mahony’s flurry of punches in the direction of Lee, after the Samoan number eight had landed a couple on Munster’s captain, helped Munster find their emotional intensity, leading to a big Tommy O’Donnell linebreak in the 13th minute.
Clermont conceded a maul penalty shortly after and Ian Keatley slotted it with a fine strike. Th French side’s oppressive fight for every scrap continued though, and when Conor Murray was blocked down just outside Munster’s 22, Julien Bonnaire opted for a daring grubber kick when simple hands might have sent Napolioni Nalaga over in the right corner.
Munster outside centre Pat Howard announced himself with a huge hit on Rougerie, but it Clermont kept coming and Fofana was next to dot down. Lee beat off the tackle of Keatley in the Munster 22, drawing in Howard before offloading.
Conor Murray’s attempt to tackle sufficed only to knock the ball into the path of Fofana, who skinned O’Mahony near the right touchline, fending the flanker to scorch in for five points.
Lopez was wide again with the conversion, before Keatley scored Munster’s second penalty. This shot came from the left-hand side after Wayne Barnes pinged Clément Ric at the scrum.
France out-half Lopez finally found his range with 31 minutes gone, smashing over a penalty from 40 metres out. More impressively, he followed that with a monster drop goal from 43 metres just three minutes later.
Foley’s men had a late chance to reduce the deficit, winning a penalty inside the Clermont 22 after Jamie Cudmore failed to roll away, but opted to go for the corner and maul.
A knock-on as Dave Foley transferred the ball let Clermont off the hook and sent Munster into the break 16-6 behind.
Two poor kicks from Keatley and then van den Heever meant Munster were slow into the second period, although the scrum began to gain a semblance of dominance as Barnes penalised Thomas Domingo twice.
Munster found themselves with another excellent mauling opportunity with 53 minutes gone, this time from 10 metres out. Again, the knock-on came as the ball was shifted to the tail. Chance gone.
Lopez fired directly into touch from outside his 22 five minutes later, allowing Munster to build a typically narrow attack that drew a straightforward penalty for Keatley. The out-half made no mistake to draw Munster to within seven points.
A huge Felix Jones hit on Nick Abendanon on kick chase then brought the Thomond Park crowd to their feet, the Clermont fullback heading for a concussion test after coming to.
Momentum looked to be creeping back in the home side’s favour as Simon Zebo made a scything break into Clermont territroy on kick return, but Murray’s low, diagonal kick three phases later went directly into touch to halt the attack.
The closing stages were tense beyond belief, as Munster desperately searched for the try that would allow Keatley to grab a draw. Clermont held their nerve; perhaps mental strength has grown in the Auvergne this season.
Munster scorers:
Penalties: Ian Keatley [3 from 3]
Clermont scorers:
Tries: Fritz Lee, Wesley Fofana
Conversions: Camille Lopez [0 from 2]
Penalties: Camille Lopez [1 from 2]
Drop goal: Camille Lopez
MUNSTER: Felix Jones; Gerhard van den Heever (Johne Murphy ’59), Pat Howard, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne (James Cronin ’13), Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Paul O’Connell, Dave Foley; Peter O’Mahony (capt.), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Sean Dougall, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan.
CLERMONT: Nick Abendanon (Jonathan Davies ’61 – ’69); Noa Nakaitaci, Aurélien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Napolioni Nalaga (Jonathan Davies ’69); Camille Lopez, Ludovic Radosavljevic; Thomas Domingo (Vincent Debaty ’65), Benjamin Kayser, Clément Ric (Davit Zirakashvili ’69); Jamie Cudmore, Sébastien Vahaamahina; Damien Chouly (capt.), Julien Bonnaire (Alexandre Lapandry ’61), Fritz Lee.
Replacements: John Ulugia, Julien Pierre, Thierry Lacrampe, Brock James.
Referee: Wayne Barnes [RFU].
Munster were poor but Clermont were exceptional throughout. Bullied Munster up front. Sometimes you have to just tip your hat and acknowledge you weren’t good enough on the day. As frustrating as it was to watch the game, I enjoyed watching Fritz Lee. Outstanding individual performance.
Munster just were not at the races. Crowd in thomond were amazing tonight great atmosphere.
Clermont were majestic. Incredible, heart, spirit and character. They blew them away. I’m blue in the face from saying it but Keatley is just not good enough. He had a shocker. No Munster player fronted up in reality.
I disagree, Robson to some extent. he’s not fully to blame for this. The forwards didn’t pull it off either, and their knock ons hurt their chances.
For Keatley to hit 3 out of 3, that was the best he could do.
Unfair to single Keatley out after that. Granted, he didn’t perform well but even Sexton or Carter would have struggled just as much tonight. No go forward ball up front means any no 10 is going to have a long day.
Munster will never win a champions cup with Keatley at 10. He is simply not at that level. He’s not to blame for this evening but you never ever feel like he’s running the show. He’s a good athlete, place kicks are good but he just doesn’t have the overall rugby brain to be a brilliant 10. His tactical kicking was terrible this evening. What’s fascinating is that Munster fans don’t seem to see him as a problem. Goperth gets some stick from Leinster fans and realistically he is a more dependable 10. No one could say he had any control on that game this evening, I feel that about him most times I watch him.
Are you actually saying that Munster will win a Champions Cup if they get shot of Keatley and sign a ‘world class’ 10???
Well they’ve won the Heineken cup twice so I’d imagine that’s why they enter the competition. To win it! Both times a lad called O’ Gara was at 10. Leinster won it 3 times with sexton at 10. Last two years Toulon won with Jonny wilkinson. No offence to Keatly but he’s no where near these guys.
If you put Wilkinson/O’Garaat the height of their powers into the current Munster team, they are still not good enough to win the European Cup. More than capable of competing, but not winning. Hurley, Howard, Van der Heever, making up 3 of the 5 backs is simply not good enough to win a major competition.
In fairness, 9 and 10 are only as good as the platform given to them by the pack. Munster’s pack was bossed today so in fairness to Keatley, he did as well as he could.
Mark I agree with you today Munster were beaten in every area of the park so it’s certainly not Keatly’s fault but he was way outclassed by his opposite number. And I LOVE MY COUNTY, if you had O Gara, wilkinson or Sexton playing at 10 those other backs would suddenly look a lot better.
In fairness to Keatley, he put Munster in some good positions. The two lineouts where Munster knocked on spring to mind. He also put up some good restarts where Munster got some joy. The Munster pack didn’t provide any clean ball. Clearouts were poor, they weren’t driving over the ball at ruck time. It was very hard for Murray to give Keatley any decent ball to get the outside backs moving. Lopez on the other hand was playing behind a dominant pack and was well protected. A nice place to be for a 10.
But Mark are honestly saying that Keatly is a great 10? Forget tonight’s game, in general he’s just not at the level and he is infuriating to watch mainly because he has natural talent but he just can’t put it all together. People said give him time after he took over from O’Gara. That’s along time ago and I don’t think he’s going to get any better now. It’s time to move him on and look at other options. I get the feeling that’s not happening soon.
No, I don’t think he’s a great 10. He was a good player in a very average Connacht team a few years back. You might argue that the best players from that team in McCarthy, Hagan, Carr and Keatley never really excelled when they left and showed how perhaps, they had found their level in an average Connacht side. I’m not sure any of them would get into the current Connacht side on a regular basis. I just think that Keatley is not as bad as some are pointing out and that his performance last night was made to look worse than it was due to a pack that was continuously going backwards.
I hereby decide to move to Nepal where I intend to live out my days as a mountain goat.
Christ Munster were bad. The worsed I’ve seen them play in a long time. How in God’s name can pro rugby players drop the ball so often? It’s shocking! There’s been allot of anger lately about how leinster have been playing. Compared to how Munster played today they look like the All Blacks
Munster were not bad they were up against a superior force tonight, it happens in all competitive sports, to use a well worn cliche, the better side won.
Hope the mouthy leinster fans are as vocal if things go pear shaped tomorrow…stay classy lads you were cheering for some of the same players two weeks ago
Wellety wellety wellety!
I love Munster as a team (they’ve too many amazing players to dislike) but I can’t help but smile in their fans faces at this moment.
They’ve shown serious balls last couple of years but truth be told; they’ve been very lucky with the groups they’ve gotten last couple of seasons. So for all their bandying their being in a semi-final around when really they’ve just avoided coming up against anyone decent until the semis both years.
Have that you arrogant langers! Let me guess your response? “roysh, d4, not as Irish, blah blah blah”
P.S POC had a rare off night tonight and it could have been a totally different night if they didn’t drop the ball at every crucial maul. Hard luck, but that’s never gonna cut it at this level.
Cian, if you think Munster have had it easy in the group stages the past couple of seasons, think again. Two seasons ago, they had Sarries in their group. And they didn’t win it, but they sure as hell gave Sarries what for, beating them at home and getting a losing bonus point away, because Sarries were in flying form at that stage.
Cian u call Munster fans arrogant langers, I think your the arrogant one here and I’m a Leinster man.
@Cian You have zero class.
Cian – what’s wrong with you. You’re starting to look very silly now. You mix the sometimes normal with trolling. What nonsense are you spouting tonight. You’re clearly a “diehard” Leinster fan , but you’re as bad as the munster diehard badwagoners you claim to despise.
I think the fact that you are so into Leinster with a vehement hatred for munster fans, shows you to be rather clueless and frankly a bit of child.
Remember, better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak out and remove all doubt.
Are Yis sure it’s not actually grand?
Is that a question?
*You’re
@Cian. Home now bar’s closed. Don’t give us a bad name.
Ah you’re question makes loads if sense now.
Yis is not a word either you ass.
Maybe chill out like?
Tut tut. Don’t try the chill out card when you’re rightly called out for spewing rubbish. Presumably munster fans didn’t steal your girlfriend, rob your house, insult your mother or kick your dog….. So you my friend , are the one that needs to chill out.
That’s the point I’m making martin. The so called munster and Leinster “diehard” fans are not in fact fans at all, with their mega fan status being copper fastened (in their own heads) by how much they “hate” each other. Most, I suspect, are relatively new fans who have no understanding of the game, don’t support clubs, have probably never even played and most importantly have a large void in their lives that they fill with this nonsense.
Exactly k.mcnamara these self proclaimed diehard fans are an absolute embarrassment.The only rugby they have seen is on tv,the odd game in the toyota arena and a jolly boys outing once a year in france.I see the clermont fans have invited the munster “faithful” to march with them to the stadium.if only they knew what a bandwagon jumping know nothing ref blaming bunch of johnny come lately numpties that were just about to land on their doorsteps.
#shouldbelaughedallthewaybacktothe airport.
That is all.
To say Munster were beaten by such a superior team is rubbish. When have we ever seen so many basic elementary handling errors and poor decisions being made by Munster in Europe? And also how emphatically Clermont won the collisions ( cudmore on o mahony comes to mind) Hats off to Clermont deserved their victory but all this talk about an awesome display I struggle to see. Right from the first kick off Munster were lethargic and one dimensional. Something special needed next week to stay in the hunt
Clermont had no lineout, the scrum was a lottery, they couldn’t deal with restarts (where 6 of Munsters 9 points came from), their tactical kicking was appalling and yet they comfortably came through the Thomond test. Clermont also left points behind from missed shots at goal. They were probably 20 points better in the first half (but went in 10 ahead) and were even in the second, actually Munster probably would have shaded the second half, they won it 3-0 which was about right.
Anyway, the reason I’m pointing out all of the above is that Munster lost to a half cooked Clermont at home. If Clermont get the above in order, and are playing in fortress Marcell Michelan, Munster could be in serious, serious trouble over there.
It’s not impossible, but Munster are in trouble, the next two games are away to Clermont then away to Saracens. They’ll need to win minimum one to have a shot at one of the best runners up spots, they’ll need to win both to win their group. They could do it, but they’ve given themselves a mountain to climb.
It was only a matter of time before they were found out man.
Reaching two semis in a row because they’ve not come up against anyone decent until then has given them a serious sense of inflated self confidence.
Three things I as a Munster man need to clear up here, before the “complaints start rolling in”. READ THIS BEFORE YOU COMMENT ON THE REFEREE.
He was spot on. Munster were just physically out-muscled by Clermont. Dominated in power in open play.
Clermont have a better squad in attacking and talented players.
They would have played shit if Brock James was playing instead of Lopez, who was outstanding.
“Take….your….chances”, Zilch on that one.
Munster will have it all to do next week.
Fully deserved victory for CA, I have no complaints there. Don’t know where to start with how worrying and terrible that Munster performance was.
Cian O’Donoghue, Derval O’Rourke, George Hook, Mick Galway, Philip Ryan, Sean Pol O’Finn, Eddie Halvey, ROG O’Gara – can you hear me ROG O’Gara? – your boys took one hell of a beating.
Excuse me?
Robson, just so you should know, if you’re trying to fight a battle here with words, you’re on your own here.
Lads relax, it’s a sporting/pop culture reference (and a funny one at that). Google “your boys took one hell of a beating”
Munster were poor tonight but Clermont are an exceptional outfit. Any team that can hold players the class of Jonathan Davies in reserve are to be feared. On paper their squad is a level above Munster’s, so you are depending on another Munster performance exceeding the sum of their parts and it didn’t happen. To compete against the Clermont’s and Toulon’s of this world you need to have all your best players available. The loss of Copeland, Conway and Killer on top of Earls, Ryan, Varley, Sherry, etc really makes it a mammoth task to compete.
Murry and Keatley were terrible. Very surprised that they were left on the pitch to be honest. Munster won’t qualify out of this group now.
Murray or Williams……. hmm?
Fritz Lee gave one of the greatest displays I have ever seen.
On 75:55 with Munster 7 points down they get an easily kickable penalty; surely you have to do what gives you the best chance of winning the game, i.e. kick the points, and have three minutes to score a try to win? That was my thinking anyway
With that amount of time left, you couldn’t imagine Munster being able to get back after that, Beauden. Thy had to go for the corner. Against Clermont, they would have had virtually no time to get back in their half and try to score to win.
It’s a long shot I know, but otherwise you’re settling for the draw, which gives a psychological boost to the opposition. There would have been a lot of pressure on Clermont in that final 3 minutes if they’d only have been 4 points up. Would New Zealand have settled for a draw? I think you have to back yourself to score a try at home
In some situations like this, Beauden, it’s more a psychological blow to the opposition if you settle for and get a draw.. Because draws don’t mean much in a European competition, this would have hurt Clermont if Munster didn’t disappoint in persisting with the draw, because they knew they had done everything right up to that point. But to concede 7 points would hurt them.
Agree with worst no10 in the Autumns and retired no10 there. Should have taken the 3.
Some prize pr**ks on here tonight. Clermont and Wayne Barnes destroyed Munster tonight.
Wayne Barnes did not have any Clermont favouritism. He was fair for both teams. Munster were unfortunately just beaten by a better side on the day but if a team can win in france it’s them. Leinster beat Clermont in the bear pit , albeit in Bordeaux, a few seasons ago in a Heineken Semi and Munster could well do the same.
Are you actually having a laugh ????? That’s the most ridiculous statement I have ever read. Sweet jesus he was a disgrace!!!!!
To be fair he was awful for both sides, scrums were a lottery and don’t even get me started on rucks the amount of times I saw players from Munster and Clermront flying in off there feet or from the side was ridiculous. As bad as Barnes was Clermont deserved their win
A drunk is a drunk. Just as irritating no matter what Provence he/she is from.
As a Leinster/Irish supporter I was expecting Munster to win this particular game but I am feeling if Leinster can produce the same intensity as Munster did they might defeat Harlequins tomorrow, we wait and see.
Ah here chaps all winding yis up aside; I’m never happy to see an Irish province lose. I’m just poking fun at Munster fans because I think they’ve over estimated themselves of late because they’ve reached 2 handy enough semi finals and because they’ve recently replaced a muck Leinster side as top dogs in Ireland.
I was roaring frustratedly at the 3 dropped transfers in the mauls because it’s them that was the losing of the game. POC way off kilter tonight but he is human after all and is allowed one bad game a decade. Also yis should relax yis langers!
Do you know not everyone from Munster is from Cork? Also even calling a person from the peoples republic a langer is a tad offensive
If you’re the kind of person who’s offended by a bit of banter; then I’m happy to have offended you ;)
It’s grand for you all to slag us off and say we’re all from South Dublin even though there are twice as many other counties in Leinster that we could be from. But the second we slag back it’s offensive? Seriously! Go crywank yourself to sleep in the corner and tell a priest ye langer!
Foleys limited narrow game was found out the same way Leinster will be found out tomorrow most likely. When Munster needed a little wdth they could not even pass wide for two passes.
Was impressed with the scrum got on top there but too many mistakes dropped balls, going to contact instead of passing. Kicks out on the full you cannot make those mistakes against top sides and hope to win.
Note to coach, Keatly is the best twelve in the country, good pass, good boot, big enough in defence, wicked break so JJ inside, Earls outside Munster have a wide game.