Monumental Munster effort secures Euro rugby lifeline

Munster have built a reputation on delivering big performances when they’re least expected, and to survive the type of examination they were to get yesterday at the Stade Marcel Michelin, nothing less than a season’s best would suffice, writes Donal Lenihan.

Trailing by 17 points with just seven minutes left on the clock after Clermont captain Damien Chouly registered his second and Clermont’s third try of the game, it seemed inevitable that the hosts would press on and claim the bonus-point fourth try. If that were to be the case, it would have done scant justice to Munster’s efforts in very demanding circumstances.

What we do know about Munster over the years is that they never give up. To somehow summon the energy to register ten points over that closing period and return home with a losing bonus point was a monumental effort.