Munster's Champions Cup dream over as Northampton dominate final quarter
Munster's Tadhg Beirne is tackled by Burger Odendaal of Northampton Saints during the Champions Cup last-16 game at Franklin's Gardens. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Munster’s bid for Champions Cup glory end at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday as Northampton Saints produced a dominant final quarter to finally shake off dogged performance from the Irish province and reach the quarter-finals.
The game had been in the balance at 14-14 approaching the hour mark and after a scoreless third quarter. Tries from Sean O’Brien and Mark Haley countering home scores from James Ramm and Tommy Freeman in the opening half.
Yet two tries in the last 20 minutes from outside back replacement George Hendy made the difference in this Round of 16 tie. Saints now welcome the Bulls, 54-10 conquerors of Lyon in Pretoria 24 hours earlier, to Northampton next weekend while Munster must concentrate on their bid for the URC play-offs with a two-game tour to South Africa later this month.
In truth, form was with the English Premiership leaders, coming off a big home win over Saracens eight days earlier, while Munster, playing a day later, had been far from fluent in beating URC rivals Cardiff at Thomond Park.
The URC champions had also been dealt a blow before leaving Ireland, not only failing in their appeal of John Ryan’s three-match suspension but also forced to travel to without RG Snyman and Shane Daly, both of whom had been named in the starting XV on Friday.
Tom Ahern replaced the ill South Africa lock Snyman to start in the second row alongside matchday captain Tadhg Beirne, his place among the replacements handed to Jack O’Donoghue.
Left wing Daly had picked up a knock in training, forcing a back three reshuffle as Simon Zebo switched from right with Sean O’Brien restored at number 14 from the bench, with academy wing Shay McCarthy taking the number 23 jersey.
With a sell-out crowd populated by a big contingent of travelling Munster supporters, the visitors started strongly only to see John Hodnett held up over the Northampton line on six minutes.
Yet it was the home side which drew first blood after 10 minutes, Jack Crowley failing to deal with a long kick upfield from Saints scrum-half Tom James. The Ireland fly-half’s attempt to control with his boot saw the ball run off his toes over the tryline and forcing the number 10 to clear from deep.
The resulting Saints lineout from only six metres out produced the opening try, as Northampton worked the ball from left to right and back, centre Burger Odendaal supplying the final pass for full-back James Ramm to round his man and score under the posts, Fin Smith adding the conversion.
Munster hit bit shortly after following some concerted pressure inside the opposition 22, O’Brien taking a short pass to score to the left of the posts and Crowley kicking the extras to level the scores at 7-7 on 15 minutes.
There was more patient build-up phase play that led to the Reds' go-ahead try 12 minutes later following a scrum penalty on home ball. Crowley kicked to touch, Munster won another penalty at a ruck and from that kick back into the right corner, they earned a penalty advantage from which more slick passing put full-back Mike Haley over, his fly-half converting.
Saints ended the half back on level terms, though, England wing Tommy Freeman exposing a stretched defence four minutes before the break with Smith’s conversion making it a 14-14 game heading into the second half.
The third quarter was fought in the trenches, and largely between the 22s until both coaches began to utilise their benches, Saints’ Phil Dowson introducing England scrum-half Alex Mitchell, Rowntree replacing his number nine Craig Casey, who appeared to struggling with sickness, and sending in Conor Murray to add some cup-tie experience as Peter O’Mahony also left the fray, replaced by Alex Kendellen.
Yet it was another Saints benchwarmer who made the initial impact, outside back Geroge Hendy putting his side back in front with a try on 60 minutes, scored from a lineout just outside their own 22, the speed of their attack from deep creating a three on one advantage down the right with Haley the exposed defender. The ball found Hendy on the edge and his diving finish over O’Brien and into the corner pushed Saints into a 19-14 lead, Smith having missed his touchline conversion.
Saints were re-energised but though Smith miskicked a very gettable 70th minute penalty, it was Hendy who struck once more in the right corner, as the home side countered off a loose Munster pass on halfway three minutes later. The conversion for the right touchline struck an upright but Northampton were 24-14 ahead and when Munster knocked on in front of Saints’ posts with five minutes to go, the game looked up for the men in red, a feeling underlined by a Northampton penalty at the ensuing scrum.
J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall, B Odendaal (G Hendy, 59), O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James (A Mitchell, 52); E Iyogun (A Waller, 62), C Langdon (S Matavesi, 56), T Davison (P Hill, 62); A Moon (T Mayanavanua, 64), A Coles; C Lawes, L Ludlam – captain (J Augustus, 52), S Graham (A Scott-Young, 71).
M Haley (S McCarthy, 74); S O’Brien (S McCarthy, 62-69 - blood), A Frisch, A Nankivell (J Carbery, 65), S Zebo; J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray, 55); J Loughman, N Scannell (E Clarke, 68), S Archer (J Wycherley, 68); T Beirne – captain, T Ahern; P O’Mahony (A Kendellen, 55), J Hodnett, G Coombes (J O’Donoghue, 65).
Replacement not used: M Donnelly.
Mike Adamson (Scotland)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
