Munster rekindle European glory days with epic victory in La Rochelle
Munster's Diarmuid Barron celebrates a try. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho
Stade Marcel-Deflandre Jack Crowley produced a moment of Ronan O’Gara-like magic as Munster added to their European legend in fine style on Saturday, reaching the Champions Cup quarter-finals at the expense of O’Gara’s La Rochelle with a dramatic victory in front of at least 3,000 travelling supporters.
The Round of 16 showdown between the province and a side one of their favourite sons had guided to two Champions Cup titles had been eagerly anticipated since they were drawn together for a first meeting last January.
And it was one of O’Gara’s successors in the red number 10 jersey who delivered the winning score, with a drop goal the province’s record points scorer would have been proud of, on any other day but this one.
A first-half try from Craig Casey as he benefitted from a scintillating break from Thaakir Abrahams had given Munster a foothold as they trailed 10-7 at the interval but it was a 13-minute spell at the start of the second half which made the difference, tries from Gavin Coombes after he charged down a kick from Ihaia West, and another soon after form wing Andrew Smith opened up a 22-10 lead before La Rochelle closed the gap with a penalty try only for Crowley’s brilliantly executed drop goal to open up an eight-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
A converted try from Hoani Bosmorin five minutes from time made for a anxious ending but Munster held their nerve and had captain Tadhg Beirne with a penalty-winning poach to see his side through to the last eight and a meeting next weekend with either Bordeaux-Begles or UIster, who play in France on Sunday.
It had promised to be one of those great European days out that have become legend in Munster folklore from early in the day.
The port town had thronged with red-jerseyed supporters during the day until it was time for them to make their way towards Stade Marcel-Deflandre, hundreds gathering around the team bus as it arrived outside the ground to give the squad a huge roar, former captain Mick Galwey leading the singing of the Cranberries’ “Zombie” from the roof of a cherry picker.
It was quite the sight, and a contrast to the calm on the pitch inside as O’Gara chatted with his former Munster colleagues on the visiting coaching staff during the pre-game warm-up.
There was even a minute’s applause for the late Kerry football manager Mick O’Dwyer, no doubt at the behest of the La Rochelle head coach, and the noise levels ramped up from there as both sets of supporters made their voices heard in the lead-up to kick-off.
It set the scene perfectly because it was thrilling first half, La Rochelle over the Munster tryline after just 58 seconds as the visitors were caught cold out wide by Teddy Thomas, the centre evading a tackle from full-back Thaakir Abrahams to pass inside for scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow to score. Or not.
Referee Andrea Piardi had allowed Ihaia West to attempt the conversion before the TMO intervened having spotted a foot in touch from Thomas following Abrahams’ intervention. No try but notice had been served.
This did not look a La Rochelle side short on confidence, despite having failed to win in eight games and they continued to apply pressure inside the Munster 22, eventually ekeing a penalty which saw wing Andrew Smith yellow carded on 10 minutes. The home side immediately exploited their numerical advantage, flanker Levani Botia crashing over just a minute later and West adding two points for an early 7-0 lead.
Munster were capable of fireworks themselves, though they had been let down by some poor execution a couple of times but when Abrahams supplied the spark there was no mistake, the South African full-back marking his first game back since a dislocated shoulder in mid-December with an electrifying turn of pace after collecting the ball from Crowley behind his own 10-metre line.
He spotted a gap in the La Rochelle line on halfway and with a step and a burst of acceleration, Abrahams was through, creating a two on one with his scrum-half in support, the full-back drawing the last man before putting in Casey for the try under the posts. A simple conversion from Crowley levelled the scores and it stayed 7-7 until the stroke of half-time when West kicked a penalty to send La Rochelle into the break with a 10-7 lead.
Whatever happened in the home dressing room at the break, it was not beneficial for La Rochelle. Calvin Nash earned Munster a penalty at the first ruck of the half, which Crowley kicked to level the scores.
La Rochelle should have replied with a try after stretching Munster at the other end. The sent the ball out wide to Thomas but the unmarked former France star chose not round tighthead prop Oli Jager on his outside for an easy scorer, instead making the disastrous decision to cut inside into traffic from where the visitors scrambled to hold O’Gara’s side up over the tryline.
At the other end, fly-half West then saw his clearing kick charged down by Gavin Coombes, the No.8 catching up the ball at speed, controlling it with a side foot to nurse it over the tryline before scoring to the delight of the away supporters.
Crowley added the conversion and it got worse for La Rochelle moments later when wing Dillyn Leyds was yellow carded for a tackle off the ball as Munster ran it up to 10 metres from the line. This time it cost the men in white, Smith atoning for his first-half yellow by dotting down in the left corner after taking a short pass from Casey.
Though the left-touchline conversion was missed by Crowley, Munster had opened up a 22-10 lead in the 13 minutes since half-time, but the contest was far from over and momentum shifted back towards La Rochelle.
Munster had prepared for the power of the La Rochelle maul but there was little they could do to contain it, fairly at least, on 65 minutes when the lineout drive was dragged down by Alex Kendellen. It cost Munster a penalty try and a yellow card for the replacement back-rower as their lead was cut to five points at 22-17.
Yet there was still time for heroics, Crowley cementing his place in Munster legend to send over a difficult drop goal from some 40 metres out on 69 minutes that O’Gara would have been proud of on any other day.
The three points from the fly-half’s boot earned his side some much-needed breathing space at 25-17 and there were other huge moments for the proud travelling fans to cherish, Fineen Wycherley, Smith and captain Tadhg Beirne winning crucial breakdown penalties to thwart La Rochelle’s efforts to get back on terms with time running out.
Munster’s 14-man rearguard almost held their hosts at bay but they were eventually stretched to breaking point on 75 minutes, Hoani Bosmorin unmarked out wide to touch down a Crossfield kick-pass, Antoine Hastoy converting to make it a one-point game with four minutes to go but Kendellen having returned his side to their full complement.
They needed all 15 players as La Rochelle edged into drop-goal territory themselves but it did not come, another Beirne poach ending the contest in dramatic fashion, at least once referee Piardi had prolonged the agony with a TMO check.
When the referee’s arm went up a second time, Crowley booted the ball into the stands and Munster were into the quarter-finals. Either Bordeaux-Begles back in France or Ulster at Thomond Park awaits next weekend.
D Leyds; J Nowell (J Favre, 48), T Thomas, UJ Seuteni (A Hastoy, 52), H Bosmorin; I West (M Haddad, 64), T Kerr-Barlow; R Wardi (A Kaddouri, 54), P Bourgarit (Q Lespiaucq, 48), U Atonio (A Kuntelia, 52); T Lavault (U Dillane, 55), W Skelton; L Botia (J Cancoriet, 48), O Jegou, G Alldritt – captain.
I West 22-32, D Leyds 50-60.
T Abrahams (R Scannell, 54); C Nash, T Farrell, S O’Brien, A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray, 66); J Loughman (J Wycherley, 12), D Barron (N Scannell, 56), O Jager (S Archer, 53); J Kleyn (F Wycherley, 53), T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony (T Ahern, 53), J Hodnett (A Kendellen, 63), G Coombes.
A Smith 10-20, A Kendellen 65-75.
Andrea Piardi (Italy).
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