Late hero: Ronan O'Gara
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Northampton had an historic victory snatched from their grasp as a late drop-goal from Ronan O'Gara saw Munster win 23-21 at Thomond Park.
Saints had looked to be heading to a vital Pool win even at such an early stage in the campaign. But with the scores at 20-21, Munster launched a 40-phase attack before Limerick favourite O'Gara sat back in the pocket and ultimately did the rest.
Last year's runners-up, Northampton, must have thought they had done enough to claim a rare away win at Thomond Park when tries from Chris Ashton and James Downey and eleven points from Ryan Lamb's boot put them two points up.
But, after first half tries from Damien Varley and Doug Howlett had kept Munster in contention, it was O'Gara, whose kick at the death, that won it.
It was Munster who started brighter with Varley going over with just three minutes on the match clock. It was a statement from the young side.
Saints hit back though almost immediately when wing Ashton went over after great work from Ben Foden. Lamb converted and then hit two further first half penalties.
Northampton were then stunned by the first of two late-half spells from Munster, the first seeing Howlett break the line and O'Gara convert to send the hosts into the sheds ahead.
O'Gara then drew first blood in the second 40 with three points before Lamb responded with one of his own three minutes later at the special venue, which was lapping up the spectacle.
Then came another example of Northampton's power up front, particularly at scrum-time, as their strong platform allowed former Munster centre Downey to dummy and go in untouched. Playmaker Lamb missed the extras but Saints were ahead until the dying embers.
Cue Munster drawing on all of their European experience and with 40 phases amassed, O'Gara sat back and knocked over a sweet drop-goal for victory.
The scorers:
For Munster:
Tries: Varley, Howlett
Con: O'Gara 2
Pen: O'Gara 2
Drop: O'Gara
For Northampton:
Tries: Ashton, Downey
Con: Lamb
Pen: Lamb 3
Munster: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Danny Barnes, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 John Ryan, 18 John Hayes, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Denis Leamy, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Will Chambers.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Vas Artemyev, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Samu Manoa, 20 Phil Dowson, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Steve Myler, 23 George Pisi.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Comments
crunchfit says...
@garmor
I only noticed in the last Heineken Cup, but Northampton rarely scrummage legally. Assuming they don't over-rotate the scrum and make it a complete mess, Hartley always seems to pull himself away from the opposite front row, out of the bind and pops up instead of pushing forward. Half the time Tonga'uiha will follow just after. The scrum usually runs smoothly enough after this in Northampton's favour, but as far as I am aware, that is illegal and it is never penalised.
I don't know why it's never picked up on. I thought it's a similar type of situation to McCaw being able to get away with things. It's been going on for a long time.
Posted 12:30 14th November 2011
crockett says...
The "Fat Lady" only sings to the direction of the "Munster Monsters" . It has always been that way in Thomond Park and that is why the legend lives on and folklore is created. What a game ! What a team! The fear of loosing there for Munster is greater than the prize for winning. Wow !
Posted 10:40 14th November 2011
liam2me says...
@ luvleinster,
True, and that makes it even more damning that the british press get it so badly wrong all the time
Posted 23:16 13th November 2011
luvleinster says...
@liam2me
johne murphy is 27 liam and used to play for leicester so he's hardly under the radar...donnacha ryan is 28, I wouldnt class either as a youngster. however, nitpicking over all the players you mentioned had a fine game and i'm especially delighted for ryan as o callaghan has been hanging onto o connells coat tails for too long
Posted 17:10 13th November 2011
yelloj321 says...
Gotta feel bad for Saints. There were 2 clear knock ons in those 40 phases.
Posted 16:27 13th November 2011
brownieOC says...
Ronan O' Gara doesn't sweat. He forces the air around him to cry and uses it's tears to cool himself. What. A. Hero.
Posted 15:32 13th November 2011
crunchfit says...
@ChrisInCrete
Do you realize that there were a bunch of those knock-ons in the game? Yes, Munster got away with it but the same thing happened to both teams a few times. And it didn't affect the try. Northampton didn't stop for a second and it was a couple of seconds after. Both teams were off their feet all day. Owens was poor in this area. Also there was a ruck where POC did come through the middle, but the commentators made a big deal of him coming around the side. They didn't realize that number 17 was blocking POC, but he left the ruck and let POC through. He was on the wrong side a good bit though, I'll admit that.
The only thing to argue about is the scrums. In my opinion, NH were far stronger in the scrum but they were so strong they kept rotating too much. Every scrum would either wheel, or Tonga'uiha and / or Hartley would pop up as they always do and drive forward (I think that's illegal, it worked in the first half against Leinster almost every time). They didn't just force Munster directly backwards as they could have done.
Posted 15:06 13th November 2011
Jediboy says...
The best team doesn't always win.
Posted 11:04 13th November 2011
melkdave says...
Well what a fantastic match ,both sides showed sprit and p-layed very well .Thiose SH supporters who think the super 15 is a better competion take note it isnt lol. The H /cup throws up alot of gr8 matches such as this every year
Posted 10:52 13th November 2011
makemehappy says...
A great last ditch effort by Munster. How they weren't at least 15 points down at that stage no-one will ever know. Outplayed, and blasted off the park in the scrum. Nigel Owens needs to check the rule book - you have to penalise the team offending in the scrum - not the one which is utterly dominant!
Before anyone says that I've been unfair on Munster - I want the Scarlets to win this group, so am delighted with a Munster win!
Posted 10:23 13th November 2011
ChrisInCrete says...
"Northampton had an historic victory snatched ...... " by an extremely poor display by the referee. Forget the 40 phases - it would not have been there if he had not been so one-eyed and biased. Munster knock-on in front of his eyes - nothing. O'Connel continually round the wrong side, players not supporting their body weight on the ground and interfering with the ball. A master class of everything that is bad. Not to forget crooked feeds (both sides). But why was he only picking up on Northampton and continually? I guess refs have their bad days, but certainly not at this level and importance of match. Can refs be relegated to lower divisions? Is PR too politically correct to comment?
Posted 09:32 13th November 2011
Rugbymad111 says...
Article doesn't do the match justice- this was the craziest end to a rugby match I've seen in years. And that's speaking as an AB's fan... Cracking exhibition of rugby for the neutral, heartbreaking stuff for a Northampton fan, and last minute euphoria for Munster fans... Northampton showed serious class and ability to progress in ths comp again, real surprise in many respects was the ability and inventiveness of this fairly green munster team. Mallinder is showing his ability to build a squad of depth and attacking flair, but the passion shown by munster at the death showed what a dangerous outfit munster are in front of a home crowd. Loved the result as a neutral, as a 1st round intro to HC this should hook all newcomers!
Posted 01:43 13th November 2011
crunchfit says...
Northhampton were fantastic. So were Munster. I've never rated Johne Murphy very highly but bar that one kick outside the 22, he was fantastic. Man of the match for me. Or ROG, hard to pick. He was unreal. Just outstanding. Actually ROG gets it. Howlett was great. Barnes and O'Mahony looking very good. Too many small mistakes from Artemyev today. Brilliant match. Ending was completely insane. Still can't believe it. Feel bad for Northampton.
Posted 00:30 13th November 2011
adamk says...
Unreal. One of the best games of rugby I've ever witnessed. Some poor ref calls from Owens, but that effected both sides.
Actually a great weekend of rugby. Once again the European Rugby Cup shows off why it is the premier competition in the world in my opinion. This was the first weekend and it may as well been the final for some of the teams.
Thank you Munster for a jaw-dropping, edge of your seat game! From a Leinster fan.
Posted 22:28 12th November 2011
liam2me says...
Murphy, Barnes, Murray, Coughlan, POM and to an extent, Ryan. all players who planetrugby had never heard of and as a result, wrote Munster off. Now these new youngsters have just taken the scalp of the great English wet dream, time to wake up and learn a thing or 2 about Irish rugby, because it could be anoyher baron year for the Aviva teams.
Posted 22:27 12th November 2011
papachinzo says...
I've never seen an apparently "dominant Scrum" do so little damage. All they seemed to do was go 90 degrees all the time, never did they make the Munster pack crumble. Which makes me wonder how much cheating the two Northampton props got away with...
Amazing end to the game however. Never witnessed such determination in my life. Inspiring! If only they did that for Ireland.
Posted 21:27 12th November 2011
crockett says...
Welcome Saints! You have just been "Thomonded" !!! But if its any consolation you are in good company with all those who have experienced the same fate !
Posted 21:03 12th November 2011
crockett says...
The "Thomand Park" factor is alive and well and Northampton Saints have just experienced the full brunt of it. Go Munster
Posted 20:46 12th November 2011
NHsaints says...
Not happy about the reffing at all...the whole team are going to be beating themselves up over letting this one slip...good game though and it shows how far we've come...2 years ago same venue we came short by nearly 10 points and it should have been more, this time we came short by 1 and we should have won it by 1-8 points...
Posted 20:38 12th November 2011
island says...
What. A. Legend. How many times has Ronan O'Gara pulled something like that out of the bag?
Posted 20:29 12th November 2011