Staying alive

WHEN Munster fell 17 points behind a rampant Clermont Auvergne team with 25 minutes still to play at the splendid Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin yesterday, there was every reason to fear a defeat of embarrassing proportions.

Outplayed and outclassed, Munster’s task appeared hopeless.

Not for the first time, however, they summoned up reserves of courage and fortitude that have so long made them a major force in European rugby, forced the French on to the back foot, racked up the scores that got them to within seven points of the French and eked out the bonus point that sees them needing to beat Wasps by eight or more points at Thomond Park on Saturday to ensure they go through to the knock-out stages. They may still go through with a two point winning margin, but we’re into head-to-head tries and aggregate scores for that.