If Toulouse lift the Heineken Cup at the end of May in Marseille they’ll know it’s because they got out of jail in downtown Dublin. A quite brilliant Munster, on the other hand, will be wondering how the prisoner escaped in a match of epic proportions, intensity and excitement. The story of the day will become folklore and will be handed down for generations to come.
There are several refereeing decisions to look at but, in truth, they should have had the deal done before extra-time was necessary, Joey Carbery’s two fluffed easy-enough kicks proved very costly, even though a try arrived soon after one of them.
As the clock was reaching 75 minutes Munster should have been at least another score ahead, instead the lead was a very vulnerable three points. Toulouse had been having a very uncomfortable afternoon, the Munster game plan had worked very well: put Antoine Dupont in shackles and make his heavy pack do some running – they didn't like it.
Overwhelmed in early scrummaging, Munster had beefed upped and were pretty much holding their own in that department as Toulouse launched one last desperate assault
When Alex Kendellen forced his way over for the first Munster try a slice of good fortune came their way. Referee Luke Pearce was late into in-goal, and he knew it too, spread-eagling himself flat to the floor, he felt that the ball was on a defender's sock. What? His on-field decision, therefore, was "no try," and that decision would have stood if a camera had been obscured and had not been able to show us that no sock was involved.
I’m not so sure that it showed conclusively that there had been an actual grounding, which is what is required to overturn an on-field call, but on a very high balance of probability there was nowhere else for the ball to be and the try was awarded. It, so easily, could have gone the other way and it was a lesson to referees who don’t bother to work hard at getting into in-goal. You cannot depend on the TMO, who, in turn, is dependent on a camera getting a view.
Overwhelmed in early scrummaging, Munster had beefed upped and were pretty much holding their own in that department as Toulouse launched one last desperate assault. Munster cleared their lines to just outside their “22” for a Toulouse throw-in, but Pearce had been playing advantage for a knock-on by the visitors and called play back for a Munster scrum less than 10 metres from their own goal-line.
A potential clearing kick from that position would have to be taken from deep in the in-goal area. Maybe they would have preferred to play the line-out, and, given what was about to transpire, they definitely would.
The scrum engaged, Craig Casey threw in and suddenly the home team was penalised – but why? My reading of events was that the Toulouse loosehead prop, David Ainu’u, had stepped outwards and driven across the Munster scrum causing it to turn quickly and then collapse. Pearce was standing in front of this and it is his opinion which counted, but my view certainly did not coincide with his, and I am not alone. The only reason Toulouse were dominant at that particular scrum was because of an apparent illegal action. The penalty brought the scores level and was a pivotal moment.
Unsanctioned
At that stage, Munster were already without the talismanic Peter O’Mahony. Under his own posts he was, yet again, poaching expertly, when, unsanctioned, Romain N’tmack side-entered the breakdown taking O’Mahony off his feet and into a lot of heavy Toulouse traffic. He was injured in the process and could not continue, a huge loss to his side for the final 15 minutes of normal time.
Toulouse dished out some heavy punishment at tackle time, Conor Murray taking a, just about legal, mammoth smash from the 140kg of Emmanuel Meafou. The scrumhalf was both shaken and stirred, hardly a surprise. And then the Simon Zebo incident – Pearce, initially was considering this in the high danger zone. Rory Arnold had come in late and hard, lifting the Munster man off his feet, banging his head forcefully onto the ground.
The replays showed that the first point of contact with the ground had been Zebo’s upper back, and the red card was thus mitigated to yellow. You have to wonder if the protocols require such strict adherence. Neither did the officials consider a sanction increase which might have accrued because the challenge was late, and that also Arnold appeared to hit his shoulder into the winger’s head, after the so-called tackle was complete.
Extra time brought no score, but early-on Pearce was sympathetic to an offside Toulouse player who seemed to impede Craig Casey at the back of a ruck, but the whistle remained silent – we’ve seem similar incidents penalised.
Level on points, and tries scored, the inevitable, cruel penalty shootout came into play. It finished quickly, with Munster missing three. It’s been suggested that three tosses of a coin would be a better way to decide such matches, ensuring that history could have no one to highlight. But, the place-kick contest, at least, involves a skill, whereas throwing a coin in the air is just pure chance.
Catching my breath when finally it was all over, it was difficult not to wonder if Thomond Park would have made the vital difference if Ed Sheeran hadn't been visiting Limerick. Jam-packed to the raucous rafters, it would have been more intimidating than the Aviva where the spectators are further away from the action. Surely, it was for moments like this that the stadium was redeveloped.
Munster players have clearly responded to the positive news around the coaching ticket and Graham Rowntree’s presence was noticeable. It’s easy to believe that they will play for this man and will be determined to drive on now in the URC’s final stages. Their trophy cabinet has been empty for far too long.
And thank you to the crowd, you made the day. The red army had travelled in hordes, creating a wonderful atmosphere, true rugby supporters, of both their team and of the game. Team Ireland could do with you.
