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Le géant irlandais pourrait être éliminé dès cette 5e journée en cas de défaite sur la pelouse des Saracens combiné à un succès de Clermont à Sale. Pour rester en vie
Paul O’Connell has never been one to throw in the towel, especially before the fight has begun, but the Munster legend has shocked a few people by suggesting his side’s chances of beating Saracens are “probably slim”.
Mighty Munster giving up the chance to fight for a European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final berth? Never!
The mind games have obviously kicked-in early ahead of the vital Pool 1 clash at Allianz Park on Saturday. One thing is certain, it is win or bust for the two-time champions from Ireland.
Despite beating Saracens 14-3 in round two, and denying them a losing bonus point, back-to-back defeats against Pool leaders ASM Clermont Auvergne have left them lying in third place, three points behind Sarries and four off the top.
It is time for another Gloucester style ‘Miracle Match’ for Munster, although this time without any home comforts. It is time for something special and perhaps O’Connell is positioning his side’s chances in order to get a typical backs-against-the-wall reaction.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve got to do something that we haven’t done before. I think in Anthony Foley’s era we were in a similar position when we lost to Perpignan over there, and we managed to pull through,” said O’Connell.
“But it’s going to take a little bit of luck to go away to Saracens. To win this game is going to be really difficult – you’re afraid of the consequences of losing and you know what opportunities winning can bring.
“I know how tough it is going over there. They’re a really clever team, very hard to analyse, very unpredictable, and they prey on a lot of your errors.
“They force teams into errors, so it’s going to be a very tough game for us. It would be fantastic to get a result, get a win over there and give ourselves a chance of qualifying, but it’s going to be very difficult.”
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall will take O’Connell’s words with a pinch of salt, knowing full well from bitter personal experience just how stubborn a side Munster are and how capable they are of getting out of the most impossible situations, especially in Europe.
Their home form has been strong with only one defeat in nine games at Allianz Park and a further ‘home’ win over Wasps at Twickenham Stadium. They still have an away trip to come to Clermont next week, but four or five points against Munster could put last season’s runners-up in contention for at least a runners-up ticket into the last eight.
Match Facts
- After their win earlier in the pool stages, Munster have now got the better of Saracens on five of the six occasions that they have met.
- The last meeting between the sides brought the largest winning margin between the two (11 points), before that the average winning margin had been just three points.
- Saracens’ Jamie George is the tournament’s top tackler this season missing just two of his 60 attempted tackles.
- Saracens, along with Harlequins, have allowed the fewest clean breaks in the tournament, conceding just 14 in the tournament so far.
- Munster Rugby can claim their 100th win in the Champions Cup if they manage to beat Saracens; Toulouse, who managed their 100th win in the third round, are the only team to win a century of games.
Les Londoniens ont fait exploser le Munster (33-10)
Chris Ashton scored twice as Saracens inflicted a devastating defeat on Munster at Allianz Park.
Ashton crossed in each half after Chris Wyles set Saracens on course for a convincing win.
Denis Hurley clawed back a try but it was never enough to prevent Munster crashing out of the Champions Cup.
This was only the second time in 17 years that Munster will not feature in the last eight of the top tier tournament and their worst European defeat since 1996.
It is a different story for Saracens who march on to a pool decider against Clermont-Auvergne in round six while Ashton moved up to fourth in the list of leading Champions Cup try-scorers.
Yet Saracens were dealt a blow before kick-off when England wing David Strettle was ruled out with a back problem.
But it was his replacement Wyles who scored the game’s opening try.
Saracens skipper Alistair Hargreaves went close inside the opening four minutes after charging down Duncan Williams’ clearance kick.
And Hargreaves was at the heart of the home scrum that set the platform for Wyles’ try.
All Munster eyes were on Billy Vunipola but Farrell instead passed to Ashton and Alex Goode handed Wyles an easy finish in the left corner.
Farrell added the conversion to his earlier penalty for a 10-0 lead in 21 minutes.
Ashton escaped punishment for tackling Simon Zebo in mid-air and Munster then lost No8 CJ Stander to an ankle injury. It summed up the Irishmen’s fortunes.
Farrell and Keatley traded penalties but Saracens pressure up-front proved telling.
Richard Wigglesworth’s quick-thinking created space for their second try.
The scrum-half took a tap-penalty with Munster still retreating. Wyles surged along the touchline before his delicate left-foot kick allowed Ashton to score.
Vunipola boosted his chances of an England return with a barnstorming display, bouncing off tackles as Munster failed to match the sheer power of Saracens.
Two further Farrell penalties, either side of half-time, opened a 26-3 lead and James Cronin was binned for infringing.
Yet Munster scored with just 14 men. Peter O’Mahony broke through, BJ Botha edged the red jerseys closer before Hurley crashed onto Williams’ pass to score between the posts.
However any thoughts of a ‘miracle’ comeback at 26-10 was swiftly snuffed out by that man Ashton.
Goode scooped up a lose pass and Jamie George provided the thrust before handing Ashton his 27th try in Champions Cup history.
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