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Munster and Perpignan will renew their great rivalry in a top of the table clash in Pool 6 on Sunday. - 07/12/2013 18:17
Munster and Perpignan will renew their great rivalry in a top of the table clash in Pool 6 on Sunday.
The sides have met each other seven times in Heineken Cup history, with two-time former champions Munster winning five of those matches.
They go into the Thomond Park encounter, one-point behind the Blood and Golds, who lead the way in a wide-open pool, with just two-points separating top from bottom.
They will be without hooker Mike Sherry and second-row Donnacha Ryan, who is a reported target for Perpignan, is unlikely to feature. But head coach Rob Penney reckons his side are in control of their European fate and insists they must triumph at home.
“We’re masters of our own destiny,” said Penney. “We could have been better, but it could have been worse and we’re still in the hunt.
“We have got to do a job at home, because otherwise there is no point in jumping on the plane to Perpignan if we don’t do that job.”
Perpignan prepared for the European showdown with a disappointing 30-23 Top14 loss to Clermont Auvergne. And their woes were compounded by a host of injuries to key players. Tight-head prop Giorgi Jgenti fractured his wrist, lock Romain Taofifénua picked up a knee injury, No.8 Luke Narraway suffered a bruised hip and South African flyer Wandile Mjekevu strained an ankle.
Perpignan will also be without former Munster centre Lifiemi Mafi, who missed out on a return to his old stomping ground after being red-carded against Gloucester in Round One. The big-hitting centre was banned for six weeks for a tip-tackle and will not be eligible to return until next week.
“I was pretty excited when I saw the draw, [I was] obviously looking forward to going back to Thomond Park as that’s a place I hold dearly,” said Mafi. “To go back and play in front of the people there would have been a big honour.”
Perpignan will however have James Hook at their disposal. The Wales utility back has been in imperious form for the Catalan club this season and has racked up 33 points in the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup, including a full-house against Gloucester.
Match Facts
- Munster have won five of their seven Heineken Cup games against Perpignan.
- Munster won a competition-high 33 turnovers in the opening two rounds.
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Perpignan’s Lifeimi Mafi was the only player to be sent off in the opening two rounds.
La forteresse de Thomond Park est restée imprenable. L'Usap y a concédé sa deuxième défaite dans la compétition (36-8) sans avoir à rougir de sa prestation. - 08/12/2013 15:04
Munster reignited their Heineken Cup campaign with a bonus point win over Perpignan to move top of Pool 6.
The Irishmen ran in three tries in a breath-taking first half display and wrapped up the bonus point thanks to a penalty try midway through the second half.
It moves Munster to the top of Pool 6 ahead of their return fixture against Perpignan in France next Saturday.
But it was not all good news for the home side after they lost scrum half Conor Murray with a knee injury in the first half and he now faces a race against time to be fit for next week.
Perpignan’s defeat continues their dismal away record having won just once on the road since March.
Munster head coach Rob Penney made six changes from the team that had scraped a win over the Dragons and his side made the perfect start.
Johne Murphy picked up a loose kick from Perpignan captain James Hook and after exchanging passes with Conor Murray he released flanker Sean Dougal to go over for the game’s opening try after just two minutes.
Outside half Ian Keatley added the conversion and a penalty shortly after to give the home side an excellent early advantage.
The fast-flowing play was more like a sevens match at times in the first half but Perpignan were guilty of wasting several good opportunities to get themselves back into the game.
Munster made them pay on 25 minutes when prop Dave Kilcoyne crashed over for their second try after the home side had peppered the Perpignan line.
It put Munster in complete control and their third try arrived on 35 minutes.
Perpignan were turned over in midfield and Ireland international Keith Earles raced 40 metres down the touchline to get his eighth try in the Heineken Cup.
Keatley knocked over the conversion and a missed penalty from Hook right on the stroke of halftime meant the home side went into the break with a 22-point lead.
A Hook penalty immediately after the interval gave the visitors a glimmer of hope that they could force their way back into the contest.
They thought they had a try 15 minutes into the second period when Sofiane Guitoune finished off a break but Luke Charteris was adjudged to have passed the ball forward when he was hauled down by a great tackle by Dougal.
The TMO’s decision took the energy out of the Perpignan fight back and Munster were able to secure a bonus point with 15 minutes left to play.
They were awarded a penalty try when replacement prop Kisi Pulu brought down a maul and was sent to the sin bin.
Earls had a second try ruled out for a forward pass in the final minutes but Munster did manage to get try number five through James Coughlan.
Perpignan finally had something to smile out in the final minute when wonderful hands of Hook put wing Joffrey Michel over the in corner for a try.
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