Munster reignite European hopes with stirring win in Toulon
PASSION: Munster's Simon Zebo celebrates scoring a try with teammates. Pic: Laszlo Geczo, Inpho
Munster kept their hopes of a home knockout draw alive with a famous bonus-point victory over three-time winners Toulon in an enthralling Champions Cup pool clash at Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday.
It was a first win in the pool stage for the URC champions after a home draw with Bayonne and defeat at Exeter Chiefs before Christmas but with one game remaining, against current table toppers Northampton Saints at Thomond Park next Saturday, Munster have a fighting chance of securing a Round of 16 tie on home soil in April and are all but home and hosed in terms of reaching the knockout stages.
The opportunity is thoroughly deserved after a performance both gritty and adventurous, rallying from a 10-0 deficit having conceded a wonder try finished by Duncan Paia’aua to lead 17-13 at half-time thanks to superb tries from Alex Nankivell and Simon Zebo.
Second-half scores from Tom Ahern and Calvin Nash secured the four-try bonus, with man of the match Jack Crowley kicking nine points in total, and Munster returned to winning ways for the first time since December 1.
Head coach Graham Rowntree had welcomed back Maori All Black centre Alex Nankivell, flanker Peter O’Mahony and hooker Niall Scannell to their starting line-up as well as fly-half Joey Carbery to the bench, all following injuries, but was still missing some heavyweight forward power in the shape of former Crusaders tighthead Oli Jager and World Cup-winning locks Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman.
Midway through the opening half that power deficit looked to be hurting the visitors as Toulon piled on the pressure, forcing Munster to defend for longer and longer periods, full-back Melvyn Jaminet opening the scoring from the kicking tee after his side won a ruck penalty on 16 minutes.
Yet it was Toulon’s counter-attacking prowess which tore the URC champions apart, a loose Jack Crowley kick into the backfield fielded comfortably by wing Juita Wainiqolo whose mesmerising carry from his own right corner beat five defenders to take him into the Munster half where inflicted further punishment by wrongfooting more men in red with a sublime reverse pass that set centre Duncan Paia’aua free from just over the 10-metre line under the posts for the opening try.
It was stunning stuff, Jaminet’s simple conversion opening a 10-0 lead on 22 minutes that did not bode well for the remaining hour.
Yet Munster were not cowed and fought back spectacularly well with two tries to end the first half after Crowley had kicked a long-range penalty on 27 minutes.
Less than five minutes later the Irish province swept forward with an impressive attack, Craig Casey’s quickfire passing setting the tempo and backed by some hard carrying from Scannell and then Gavin Coombes to get the ball to the line.
From there, one more pass from Casey was all it took to find Nankivell, the inside centre powering over under the posts and Crowley levelling the scores at 10-10 with the conversion.
Jaminet nudged Toulon back in front with a penalty soon after but there was more to come from the visiting side as Munster swept forward once again in the 38th minute, Crowley’s kicking this time brilliantly executed with a deft chip over the home line and into the path of the onrushing Simon Zebo who collected unimpeded to score under the posts.
Another straightforward conversion from the fly-half pushed Munster into a 17-13 lead, which stayed that way as the half concluded, Toulon kicking a penalty to the corner and held up with a turnover maul five metres out to the delight of the travelling army of supporters.
It got even better for Munster after the break as they absorbed more Toulon pressure before extending their lead, though not without referee Nika Amakusheli enraging the home support.
It was Crowley’s kicking which unlocked the opposition defence again, this time with a high ball into the corner for lock Tom Ahern to collect and score on 47 minutes. What infuriated the vociferous Mayol crowd however was what they they determined was a knock-on in the build-up from Calvin Nash.
It was a tight call, the Munster wing scrambling for a loose ball at the feet of an advancing Toulon player and sliding past the ball as both made contact. Yet while Nash slid, the referee appeared to decide the ball did not. The try stood, the crowd wailed and Crowley missed the touchline conversion amid a cacophony of boos but Munster had a nine-point lead at 22-13.
Toulon hit back, flanker Cornell du Preez powering over in the corner on 54 minutes and this time Jaminet failed to convert from wide out, leaving the contest balanced at 22-18 to Munster, though not for long.
Five minutes in fact, when Nash soared through the air to collect a Casey high kick down the right touchline as a stationary Jaminet stayed rooted on the deck, the Munster wing, on the run, raced clear to claim an invaluable try bonus point. Crowley’s conversion sent his side into a 29-18 lead heading into the final quarter.
It was an endgame played almost entirely in the Toulon half, as Munster avoided the late fall-offs that had cost them so dearly in recent matches.
Lessons learned and what a wonderful way to prove the point as the game ended with Munster flags flying and supporters on their feet singing the Fields of Athenry inside a stunned Mayol.
M Jaminet; J Wainiqolo, W Nayacalevu (S Tuicuvu, 60), D Paia'a, L Fainga'anuku; D Biggar (B Alainu'uese, 60), B White; D Priso (B Devaux, 52), C Tolofua (J Singleton, 52), K Brookes (B Gigashvili, 52); M Halagahu, D Ribbans - captain; C du Preez, S Tolofua (J Coulon, 35-40; J Sinzelle, 60), F Isa.
S Zebo (S O’Brien, 72); C Nash, A Frisch, A Nankivell (J Carbery, 70), S Daly; J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray, 70); J Loughman (J Wycherley, 76), N Scannell (E Clarke, 76), J Ryan (S Archer, 65); T Ahern, T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony (A Kendellen, 63), J Hodnett, G Coombes (B Gleeson, 77).
Nika Amakusheli (Georgia)
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