Munster out again in semis

Munster 32 Wasps 37

English champions Wasps will face French giants Toulouse in next month’s Heineken Cup final at Twickenham after destroying Munster’s European dream in an astounding performance at Lansdowne Road.

Wasps outscored Munster five tries to two, but two of those touchdowns came during 10 minutes of second-half injury-time.

They looked to have blown it when Munster surged into a 32-22 lead midway through the second period but scored 15 unanswered points to secure their place in the final.

Wing Tom Voyce sprinted over in the 81st minute after Munster’s former Wasps centre Rob Henderson was sin-binned, and then hooker Trevor Leota touched down three minutes later and Wasps could celebrate a remarkable victory.

Munster, in their fifth successive Heineken Cup semi-final, had had everything in their favour, including overwhelming support among a capacity 48,000 crowd.

But it was the travelling army of some 3,000 Wasps fans who began wild celebrations on the final whistle following a classic encounter packed with thrills and spills.

Wing Josh Lewsey, flanker Paul Volley and full-back Mark van Gisbergen also claimed tries for Wasps while fly-half Alex King kicked 12 points from three conversions and two penalties.

Neither side knew when they were beaten, and Munster can take consolation from the way they battled until they dropped.

Once again though, northern hemisphere rugby’s ultimate knockout prize had deluded them, and they will feel the pain of defeat for some time to come.

Munster skipper Jim Williams and number eight Anthony Foley score tries for Munster, with substitute fly-half Jason Holland kicking 13 points and Ronan O’Gara booting a penalty hat-trick before he limped off injured seven minutes before the break.

Welsh referee Nigel Williams made his mark on proceedings, brandishing yellow cards to Henderson, Munster lock Donnacha O’Callaghan, and the Wasps pair of Joe Worsley and centre Fraser Waters.

Ironically, Wasps scored two tries while Worsley was in the sin-bin, but they almost paid the ultimate price by conceding a try double when Waters found himself off the field.

But Wasps, led by England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, dug deep into their renowned reserves of character and commitment, and they finished the match on top.

Dallaglio will now take Wasps to Twickenham on May 23, where they will hope to emulate previous English European champions Bath, Northampton and Leicester.

It will be Wasps’ first appearance in the Heineken Cup show-piece, and it could be an unforgettable occasion, especially given that Toulouse will be defending their title.

Wasps fell behind to an O’Gara penalty in the first minute, but their response was swift and decisive.

King and centre Stuart Abbott linked superbly, allowing Lewsey to cut inside Munster’s New Zealand full-back Christian Cullen to touch down for a try which King converted.

Two further O’Gara penalties sandwiched a King strike, ending a 10th opening quarter 10-9 in Wasps’ favour before the game went up a notch in terms of quality and intensity.

The referee issued a stern lecture to Dallaglio following a dust-up in the forwards, and the simmering mood continued before the official’s patience finally ran out and he yellow-carded Worsley for killing possession.

Holland’s opening penalty edged Munster in front, but the lead lasted less than 60 seconds after Wasps scrum-half Rob Howley charged down Holland’s attempted defensive clearance.

Although Howley could not get to the line himself, he flipped the ball up and the supporting Volley claimed a try, converted by King before another Holland penalty made it 17-15 at half-time.

Wasps made a dream start to the second period, extending their advantage almost from the kick-off. Voyce set off on a weaving run towards the Munster line, and then Howley delivered a scoring pass to van Gisbergen.

Another Holland penalty cut the deficit to 22-18 before the game took an amazing twist after Waters was sent packing.

The outstanding Wasps defence was breached twice in rapid succession with Anthony Foley diving over following quality approach work by Cullen and flanker Stephen Keogh, who was drafted into the team as a late replacement for chicken pox victim David Wallace.

Holland converted and before Wasps could recover form that set-back, skipper Williams reached out for his team’s second touchdown, again improved by Holland, which put Munster 32-22 ahead and in sight of the final.

But Wasps then showed what an outstanding team they are, taking the game to Munster as if their lives depended on it and conjuring up a breathtaking finale as Voyce and Leota put them in dreamland.