Munster progress to the semis

Munster 37 Stade Francais 32

Munster booked their place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals after a whirlwind first-half performance earned them victory over Stade Francais.

Every year since 1999, Munster have claimed a last-four berth in Europe and, although the sides finished level on tries, a supreme kicking display from man-of-the-match Ronan O’Gara, who notched 17 points, proved to be the difference in the end.

The province maintained their unbeaten run at the Limerick venue with three tries from their backs inside the first 30 minutes to stun the visitors.

Stade, the reigning French champions, hit back immediately after the break with their second effort through centre Brian Liebenberg, but prop Marcus Horan replied on 46 minutes for Munster’s fourth and final try.

A snappy start from the home side, backed by four red walls of support and a favourable breeze, saw record All-Black try scorer Christian Cullen involved from the off as Munster touched down within 90 seconds.

A long Mike Mullins pass was flicked on by Cullen on the Stade 10-metre line as full-back Ignacio Corleto encroached and former Natal Shark Shawn Payne had the pace to dart over from 40 yards out.

Ireland out-half O’Gara converted and also added the extras to Rob Henderson’s effort four minutes later, when the burly centre raced onto a John Kelly chip through to touch down past Juan Hernandez.

Munster had stretched out to a 17-0 lead thanks to O’Gara’s first penalty but Stade responded through the outstanding Argentine international Corleto when he edged through a Mullins-Payne gap out wide to ghost over in the right corner.

On 26 minutes, Munster flanker David Wallace brilliantly took in two tacklers at close range to allow Mullins over with Stade’s defence stretched. O’Gara again converted to push Munster to 24 but Dominguez snapped a drop goal in the pocket on the half-hour to put two converted scores between them at the break.

French international Liebenberg got Stade off to the ideal start with a short dash over on 43 minutes but Horan’s 15-metre sprint to touch down three minutes afterwards looked to have sealed the Munster win going into the final 20 minutes.

A try for replacement Christophe Moni, well set up by French international Christophe Dominici on the right touch line saw the openside go in for a converted score on 67 minutes to make it a nine-point gap, with Dominguez’s conversion coming back off the left upright.

O’Gara and his Italian opposite number exchanged penalties in the final six minutes, with both sides reduced to 14 players due to an off-the-ball clash between hookers Frankie Sheahan and Matthew Blin in the 70th minute.

But Alan Gaffney’s men held on for a Lansdowne Road date with either Gloucester or Wasps, despite the concession of a fourth try to Stade winger Tomas Lombard with the game’s last action.