As it happened: Northampton Saints v Munster, Champions Cup round of 16
Northhampton Saints' George Hendy. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
So the wait goes on for Munster in Europe. Simon Lewis will have analysis and reaction from Franklin's Gardens on the site and in Monday's bumper sports supplement. There's a lot to dissect.
An admirable showing -- particularly in a frantic first half -- but an understrength Munster's European dream is over for another year.
The Saints will prepare for a home quarter-final with the Bulls next week.
Curtis Langdon, siting on the Saints' bench, is named as player of the match. Here's that second Hendy try:
"He had nowhere to go" 😱
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 7, 2024
George Hendy grabbed himself another incredible try making it 2️⃣ this game. @SaintsRugby extending their lead 👀🏉#NORvMUN | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/QdA3YkZaPP
Pressure from Munster and it might come down to this.
Tadhg Beirne, under the posts, knocks it on however. He's been excellent all day but that may be that?
George Hendy has his second of the day, after coming off the bench.
He beats Crowley and then evades Zebo before finishing in the same corner.
That's a huge let off for Munster.
Fin Smith had a kick at goal -- after Beirne and Archer were pinged for being offside -- to give the Saints some breathing room heading into the last 10 mins.
He completely shanked it however and it drew low and to the left.
Another Munster change as Shay McCarthy is on for Sean O’Brien. Ulster lead in Montpellier by the way...
That's been coming. The Saints go ahead with the first score of the half.
George Hendy is on the end of a nice move from deep after coming off the bench moments ago.
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 🔥
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 7, 2024
George Hendy with his first touch takes it over the line for @SaintsRugby 👀🏉#NORvMUN | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/r1Lh2Knt8s
Simon Zebo did well again to read a Smith kick in behind but pulled up as he did so. He kicks for touch and is typically smiling but we'll see how well he moves.
We're still all square Munster an hour in now and the visitors look to be hanging in there a little.
Peter O'Mahony is trotting off and his day's work is done. Alex Kendellen tags in.
Conor Murray is on too for the aforementioned, off-colour Craig Casey, importantly.
Big moment as Peter O'Mahony shows his experience and value as he steals a lineout.
After reports of illness in the Munster camp earlier meanwhile, Craig Casey has just vomited on the pitch we're told.
Northampton are on top in the first exchanges of this windy second half.
With the penalty advantage, Fin Smith darted a lovely little kick through for Freeman but Frisch held him up. We go back and the Saints will go again.
Here we go! We're up and running for the second half.
After a super half of rugby, the sides head of the sheds all square and with a sold-out Franklin's Gardens applauding their efforts.
Crashorama rugby at Franklin's Gardens, ball in play time off the charts. 14-14 at half time, and that's probably the very least @Munsterrugby deserve. The very least.
— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) April 7, 2024
Huge moment as Munster are cut up through the middle as we approach the break.
After good work from Lawes, Fin Smith passes to Tommy Freeman and he gets in.
"Northampton at their very best"
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 7, 2024
Tommy Freeman flies through and over the line for @SaintsRugby levelling the game once again 👀🏉#NORvMUN | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/tju1KbAzZi
Northampton coach Sam Vesty attempts to chat to the ITV commentators but the questions are drowned out by the crowd noise. The place is hopping.
Well, well, well. We've got a game here, haven't we?
ATTACK AFTER ATTACK ⚔️@Munsterrugby push ahead after a sneaky try from full back Mike Haley 💪🏉#NORvMUN | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/vYHEWRmcbN
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 7, 2024
The underdog visitors have shown up to play and are deserving leaders after half an hour.
That one was coming for a while, ad Mike Haley powers over in the end.
Big scrum penalty for Munster; Iyogun is pinged.
Munster ultimately kick for touch and are in a dangerous position.
Mike Prendergast obliges he ITV broadcast with some insight midway through the opening half.
"It's very swirly, you're never off it," he says as Simon Zebo gets up a head of steam and his coach morphs into an excited commentator momentarily. Zebo -- who's been brilliant in the air, especially -- loses the ball however and the chance goes.
After sustained pressure, Sean O'Brien gets over the line under the posts and Jack Crowley converts. Great response.
"THROUGH THE MIDDLE THEY GO"
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 7, 2024
Sean O'Brien takes it over the line and for @Munsterrugby to get them a try of their own 💪🏉#NORvMUN | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/P52xOw2iW1
After a relentless start to this lunchtime showdown, it's first blood to the Saints.
After 10 phases and some admirable defence from the likes of Mike Haley, eventually a slick Northampton run through with James Ramm scoring the opening try; Fin Smith converts and the place is rocking.
Some serious early pressure from Munster but excellent Saints defence.
Sleightholme catches John Hodnett high in the tackle, Crowley kicks the penalty to the corner and the visitors turn the screw.
Ultimately, after over a dozen phases, the pressure comes to nothing as Lewis Ludlam and Co manage to hold up Hodnett on the line.
Jack Crowley gets us going, and the visitors secure the kickoff.
Here come the teams, led by Peter O'Mahony, for what the Corkman -- and many of us -- hope won't be his final European outing with his side. We're moments away from getting underway.
Here's the Munster team then:
The Munster team will line out as named yesterday with no further changes.
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 7, 2024
Kick-off for today's @ChampionsCup knock-out clash in Northampton is 10 minutes away with live coverage on TNT Sports & ITV.#NORvMUN #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/j3pdBAXDA8
J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall, B Odendaal, O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; A Moon, A Coles; C Lawes, L Ludlam (capt), S Graham.
Replacements: S Matavesi, A Waller, P Hill, T Mayanavanua, A Scott-Young, J Augustus, A Mitchell, G Hendy.
: Mike Haley; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Mark Donnelly, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Shay McCarthy.
"It's felt different all week," the Munster boss tells TNT. He says his squad are 'blessed' with the travelling support and talks up the quality of the hosts.
A lot of Munster red inside Franklin's Gardens this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/6NyG9mjmag
— Simon Lewis (@SiLew) April 7, 2024
The Red Army is out in force at Franklin's Gardens and Graham Rowntree's men received this welcome earlier.
Great welcome from our supporters as the lads arrive 🚩 👏#NORvMUN #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/n7RZemU6BP
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 7, 2024
Some pre-game reading? Simon Lewis previews a massive day in Munster's season.
Backs to the wall, on the road in Europe? Where else would Munster want to be on a Sunday afternoon in April.
No doubt, Graham Rowntree's men will require a memorable performance to claim a quarter-final spot today as they travel to Franklin's Garden's to take on old rivals Northampton.
We'll go minute-by-minute throughout the encounter. Send your thoughts and pre-game predictions to adrian.russell@examiner.ie.
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