Munster stifled
MUNSTER WERE BEATEN at their own game for much of this encounter, as Clermont’s hugely aggressive line speed forced Anthony Foley’s men into errors in a 16-9 defeat. An uncharacteristic blocked-down Conor Murray kick outside the Munster 22 in the first half was symptomatic.
Julien Bonnaire, man of the match Fritz Lee and the rest of the Clermont pack scrapped for every single loose ball, got hands into the rucks to slow Munster’s possession and looked for trouble off the ball too.
We’ve become accustomed to travelling French sides not quite bringing that intensity to Thomond Park, but this international-influenced Clermont team are something altogether different.
Out-mauled
Usually an area of major strength for Anthony Foley’s side, the attacking maul failed to fire at Thomond Park this evening. On four occasions, Munster kicked for touch and attempted to maul from within striking range of the Clermont tryline. Thrice they dropped their transfer, on the final occasion Damien Chouly picked off the throw.
In contrast, Clermont took their one prime mauling opportunity, the powerful Lee crossing with just a minute gone. The Samoan number eight broke back to the right after his pack had drawn the Munster resistance in, Lee finding little in his way as he dove over.
Opportunism or analysis-driven, it was a clever score. Although Munster drew a first-half penalty at the maul to allow Ian Keatley to kick three point, it was very much a case of being out-mauled in Limerick.
Foley’s side too narrow
The narrow nature of Munster’s attack has been a genuine strength on other occasions this season, notably against Leinster and Saracens. However, at Thomond Park this evening the same attribute turned into a weakness.
Clermont were more than happy to defend around the fringes, winning collisions time and again in the tight channels and forcing Munster into several unsuccessful offload attempts. Simon Zebo did make a couple of half-breaks in those zones but Foley’s men needed more variety.
It was certainly not a night for expensive rugby in the slippery conditions in Limerick, although Munster might regret not adding a little more width to their attack. Oftentimes, it was too predicatable, allowing Clermont to hammer forward into the tackle.
Lee dominant
Rarely before has a man of the match decision been so clear-cut. Clermont’s number eight was sublime throughout, even if he was lucky that some of his tussle with Peter O’Mahony was off camera.
The Kiwi number eight arrived in France last season on a short-term ‘medical joker’ contract to cover injuries, but has been inspirational for Clermont ever since, earning himself a three-year deal.
This was the clear peak of his time in Europe, however, as he carried dynamically, made telling hits, competed for everything at the breakdown and contributed to the set-piece as much as he could.
Pool 1 test
Munster are left on nine points in Pool 1 after this defeat, with Saracens’ win over Sale having put them on the same total earlier in the day. Now Foley’s men face a trip to France in search of an altogether more cohesive performance.
In effect, a win for Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin would leave Munster all but out of the mix to advance to the knock-out stages. Saracens will look for a bonus point win over the Sharks at home next weekend.
It’s not over for Munster in Europe just yet, but this defeat leaves them in a tricky situation.
Clermont’s 77-game unbeaten record at their home stadium came to an end last season, and Montpellier beat them there in September. Still, it will take an exceptional performance to pull it off.
Very disappointing, brilliant play from clermont who fully deserved to win, Just can’t help but think that the Munster of old would have scored from that last line out.
Think that’s a bit harsh after what we did in Sale!
Wayne Barnes hates everything Irish as bad as Thatcher. .. He was an absolute disgrace.
IrishOwl, he’s not to blame. He was spot on. Munster were just simply out-muscled. That’s all.
Agree that Munster were poor but some of the decisions he made were disgraceful. Always has and always will be a joke of a referee.
Clemont deserved to win but it was a poor game in general. Gutted!
Paul O’Connell wears Fritz Lee underpants. Lee was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
The latter part of that statement is true, but it would be unwise of you to think one of the greats of Irish rugby is so much inferior to an up-and-coming Kiwi.
Historically speaking in achieving, POC WINS THAT BY A COUNTRY MILE!
Paul o connell is the greatest ever Irish rugby player. But how would you know about top level of rugby with who you follow.
Wouldn’t go that far, think O’driscoll would have something to say about that.
That depends on what press you listen too! Sunday times last week stated O’connell and not o’driscoll is Ireland’s greatest ever player! Of course Dublin media gave their darling but as the Sunday times have no dog in the fight I’m agreeing with them!
It does depend hugely and I thinks it’s almost impossible to determine who is the single greatest player, personally the best irish player I’ve ever seen is O’driscoll but there are a lot of players who I didn’t get the opportunity to see play, jack Kyle to name one, never saw him play but from what I’ve heard from my parents/grandparents he would also be in with a shout.
Ryan, shut up you pleb of a troll.
Robsonkeane just has no class. As a Leinster fan don’t take this serious. A child with a keyboard.
Go fcuk yourself garrrie
Nobson Keane the supposed great Connacht supporter who didn’t bother his hole going to watch them tonight but decided instead to watch what can only be described as a poor sloppy Munster performance in order to give us abit of stick. You’re a hero among men…not
@robsonkeane Stupid comment and nothing to be gained comparing Fritz No.8 and Paul O’Connell, 2nd row. If anything compare Fritz to CJ Stander who was quiet by comparison. Handling errors, poor kicking in play and route one cost Munster in that game. Expect a big improvement next week.
Spot-on Murray – Your 3rd point about how narrow Munster were today (and for much of this season) was the key issue for me tonight. Yet despite how poor and limited Munster’s attack was (because we had plenty of good ball to attack with) there was no sign of a dynamic player like JJ to change it around and support Zebo’s efforts. Munster’s positional kicking was just horrific to watch and made this limited game-plan most acute. Awful awful night, but major problems to be acknowledged and learnt from.
Hard to width on the ball when
1- the pack were on.back foot all night
2- we have a 12 who is 1 dimensional and rarely passes…
What was the score?
Losing Downey and Laulala was a bad judgment call from the management. They would certainly have offered something in that game. Hurley I just don’t think he’s an all-and-out 12. Howard’s only here for a short time, but he’s need more games to fit in with this team.
Tommy, Munster produced plenty of first-phase ball to attack with, and recycled much better in the 2nd, enough do make some effort at attack, but it was so pedantic, so easy to read and defend against that we had no hope of beating that superb CA defence. A harsh, painful lesson to learn, but hopefully this will result in necessary changes.
Why so narrow? ?? 11 standing 3m behind the 9 in a ruck???
Didn’t see much of Stander today, disappointing…
Tbh when copeland was called off, I was very worried. Bish bash is ok in pro-12 but not an option in top of Europe clashes. Exactly as I feared.
Leinster might suffer from narrow syndrome tomorrow Munster did tonight. It might be good enough for Pro 12 but when your up against well stacked teams it will not be enough. Munster need to sort out some back play. Connacht have less resources and still produce more backs.
It’s time Foley applied a little thinking to Munster rugby to go along side de passhun and bite as they looked clueless at the end
Munsters gameplan relied on beating clermont up front and winning the kicking battle. When that failed there was no plan b. They might have had some joy out wide but it looked like they hadn’t the freedom or the confidence to do it. Going to have to take some risks to have any chance of success in France.
Still. Politeness and good sportsmanship aside.. Wayne Barnes is and always will be a very very loaded ref. Im hoping that one day he walks out out the back of a bar in Connemara for a piss and gets dessert instead.
He deserves that where ever he goes !!!!
Keatley needs to go! !!!!!!!!!
Need to put VDH in the center and send Hurley to the A’s. I worry about tactics. From early on we are being pummelled so we try to move the ball wide only to cough up at every occasion.
Not a great day for Foley.
It’s just a pity we didn’t have the creativity of Carey laulala this year! Still gutted!
I thought Munster’s forwards were generally a bit too confrontational when they were picking and going. They could benefit from having a bit more deception, and looking for soft shoulders more. Also, against a really tough defensive team like Clermont I think you need to play mostly a kicking game – Ireland v Wales from this year type of thing. It didn’t look as if they had a planned strategy to execute kicks in behind the opposition. Credit to Clermont though. They made it very difficult for Munster to go forward effectively
Sloppy sums up Munsters performance. Too many handling errors and very poor kicking out of hand. These can be fixed for next week but the forward battle was clearly won by Clermont. Therefore next week Munster need to go over them more cleverly; enter JJ
…this was a poor Munster display with countless handling errors , bad work at the breakdown & line out & no idea how to vary a failing gameplan …add in Wayne Barnes’ total ignorance of the offside rule , failure to notice obvious crooked throws & a serious assault on POM & you have the ingredients for a defeat which could have been by more …pride alone dictates that Munster must up the ante next week ….we owned territory & possession in the second half & once again could not make it pay as in the Ulster game when we nearly coughed up what should have been a convincing win …over 20 plus years Munster have only had a few really cutting edge centres …Tipoke , Halsted , Mafi & occasional local guys but why do we continue signing back rows & wingers when we need midfield power ….hope it gets better … Up Tipp ….