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La campagne européenne s'achève tristement pour le Munster et les Sharks de Sale
Munster captain Peter O’Mahony has vowed the Irish province will put things right against Clermont Auvergne on Sunday.
Clermont became the first French side to conquer Thomond Park with their 16-9 Pool 1 triumph, putting themselves top of the standings by a point from Munster and Saracens.
Munster have not been accustomed to suffering European disappointment on home turf, but Ireland flanker O'Mahony is targeting revenge at Stade Marcel-Michelin, where the French club have lost just twice in 84 games.
“It is only half-time, that is the beauty of having these back-to-back games and we can put it right,” said O'Mahony. “We came up against an excellent side last weekend. We knew it was going to be tough, and we knew from the day the pool was drawn that it would be tough.
“I thought Clermont played well but I thought we could have a done a lot of things better. But we have to go and dominate them physically. We were bullied at times which is not something that normally happens at home.
“But we will have had eight days to recover and out our best foot forward to train as hard as we can and put ourselves in the best position to do the job.”
Clermont fly-half Camille Lopez expects the visitors to play with a real ferocity in a game which could go a long way to deciding the European fortunes of the two sides. The former Perpignan stand-off has predicted Clermont, who have a fully-fit squad to choose from, may have to put in an even better display than in Limerick if they are to do the double over the two-time European champions.
“It is a source of pride for us as a group that we are the first French side to have won in Munster, but we have to keep in mind that was only part one,” said Lopez.
“We have savoured the result but we have kept ourselves focused because we know we will need to perform at a similar level and with similar fight because Munster are going to be wanting revenge.”
Match Facts
- ASM Clermont Auvergne ended Munster Rugby's 100% record against French teams at home; a run that had previously seen Munster win all 23 games against French visitors.
- Munster Rugby's Simon Zebo gained 81 metres in the meeting between these two sides last weekend, more than any other player on the pitch.
- Clermont have won their last five home games against Irish opponents, while in total they have won 20 on the bounce on home soil.
- Munster's total of nine points in last week's game was their lowest haul in a home match in this competition since scoring six against Leicester in January 2007, the Limerick side had 26 matches in between these two occasions.
Ian Keatley kicked Munster to an injury time losing bonus point at Stade Marcel-Michelin but the former double European champions have it all to do in qualifying for the knock-out stages. - 14/12/2014 17:32
Ian Keatley kicked Munster to an injury time losing bonus point at Stade Marcel-Michelin but the former double European champions have it all to do in qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Clermont looked to be home and dry while denying Munster anything as they scored three superb tries but the never-say-die Munster spirit at least earned them something at the death.
Munster had never lost the back-to-back Rounds 3 and 4 contests but Clermont became the first to do that double after their historic 16-9 win at Thomond Park a week earlier.
It means Clermont are now favourites for automatic quarter-final qualification in going clear at top of a hugely competitive Pool 1 on 14 points ahead of Saracens on 13 points and Munster now trailing on 10 points with the Irish team facing contests against Saracens and Sale Sharks to come next month.
Munster admitted they had been bullied at Thomond Park in Round 3 when Cermont ended Munster Rugby's 100% record against French teams at home, a run that had previously seen Munster win all 23 games against French visitors.
Clermont became the first French side to conquer the Munster fortress with their 16-9 triumph but what a difference a week can make as Munster were the ones producing the early intensity and pressure – not to mention most of the rugby.
Excellent work by the Munster forwards at the breakdown produced the opportunity for Ian Keatley to draw first blood with a superbly struck penalty and although Aurelien Rougerie produced a try saving tackle Munster doubled their lead after 11 minutes.
It came in the shape of another Keatley penalty but that simply stung Clermont into glorious flowing attack mode.
Wesley Fofana was one of those weaving his magic and Munster simply ran out of defenders for skipper Damien Chouly to finish off a magnificent team try that Camille Lopez failed to convert.
Munster were forced into conceding a couple of penalties to give Clermont a foothold in Munster territory and this time Lopez was on target to boot the French club into the lead for the first time after 27 minutes of fast and furious action.
Clermont turned up the heat at scrum time to give Morgan Parra a long range penalty goal chance but although the scrum half was miles off target that mattered little because far better promptly followed.
A scintillating solo effort from wing Noa Nakaitaci produced another contender for try of the tournament and Lopez’s conversion made it 15-6 at the break.
Clermont were penalised at the first breakdown – one of Munster’s strong points – and Keatley held his nerve to cut the deficit to six points with 38 minutes to go.
But travelling delight turned to despair with Welsh referee Nigel Owens yellow carding Felix Jones for a trip on Lopez, the outside half picking himself up to punish 14-man Munster with the resulting penalty.
Jones resumed duty but then had to watch Lopez fire over a long range penalty that left Munster looking at a double point deficit for the first time.
And there was worse to come, Lopez sending a pinpoint cross kick for Chouly to collect unopposed and cross for his second and Clermont’s third.
Hooker Duncan Casey finally found the way to the Clermont line and Keatley converted but Clermont had already done the damage.
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