La Rochelle v Munster: Five takeaways as Irish province pip hosts in ‘Ronan O’Gara derby’
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara and Munster fly-half Jack Crowley.
Following a sensational 25-24 victory for Munster against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, here are our five takeaways from Saturday’s Round of 16 clash at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.
Where this one ranks for Munster
Top of the list, of course, are Munster’s two Final wins over Biarritz and Toulouse, each achieved in Cardiff, in 2006 and 2008 respectively. They rank highest because of the prize at stake on those given days.
But seasoned watchers of the Men in Red will point to the semi-final wins over Toulouse, in Bordeaux 25 years ago, and Leinster, at the old Lansdowne Road in 2006, as the high watermarks.
You can add this one to those. Victory in the Ronan O’Gara derby, achieved, ultimately, by the boot of man of the match Jack Crowley.
But also, through massive assists from the brilliant counter-attacking of Thaakir Abrahams and Craig Casey, the dog shown by Gavin Coombes and the extraordinary turnover work of Tadhg Beirne and wingers Calvin Nash and Andrew Smith.
“Phenomenal,” said captain Beirne. “Although we were underdogs we always knew there was a bit more in us. There always is in this competition.”
It added up to a nightmare for O’Gara, whose side arrived at the Round of 16 fixture having lost seven and drawn one of their last eight games – and are now out of the competition they hold most dear.
Home comforts a major obstacle
Munster had not needed the deafening roar which greeted La Rochelle onto the pitch to tell them they had their work cut out. They only needed look at how home teams fared in the four earlier round of 16 ties.
Northampton, all over the place in the Gallagher Premiership, handed Clermont a seven-try Friday beating at Franklin’s Gardens to book a quarter-final against Castres, themselves home winners against Benetton.
Toulon, despite at one point trailing Saracens 35-13, responded with 59 of the next 66 points to easily beat game but callow opposition in their Mayol bear pit. Finally, Leinster, lifted by 55,000 voices at Croke Park, matched Toulon’s 10-try haul to demolish Harlequins 62-0.
Munster were aware of all that, so understood it would take 80 minutes manning the barricades for them to have any chance. The point was emphasised when Teddy Thomas sent Tawera Kerr-Barlow over inside the first minute.
The visitors got away with that one, the score belatedly chalked off for a Thomas foot in touch. But the reprise was temporary. Andrew Smith was yellow carded soon after, offering up an advantage Les Maritimes used to score through Levani Botia.
Not so fast to write off Munster
O’Gara enjoyed Botia’s try, made by Ulupano Seuteni’s sweet assist, but was not about to start counting chickens. Nobody knows Munster’s warrior spirit better than him, nor the inadequacies of his own team this season.
His caution was well-placed. Ten minutes later his fly-half Ihaia West was sent to the sin bin for a far too upright tackle on Sean O’Brien and without the experienced Kiwi, the home side lost their impetus.
Dillyn Leyds took over the kicking duties and when his misplaced clearance went straight to Thaakir Abrahams the jet-heeled former Shark, on his return from injury, ran it back, cutting La Rochelle open and feeding the scoring pass to Craig Casey.
It needed a fine defensive set by the home side to deny Munster a second after Crowley had sent a peach of a kick into the left corner. Although his charges survived until West’s return, O’Gara wasn’t fooled.
Playing for O’Mahony and Murray
He knew what would have been said in the away sheds at half-time by the men of Cork, Limerick and, these days, further afield. How they were not about to let this one slip, not in what would then turn into a farewell Euro outing for legendary duo Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray.
If anyone was in any doubt of that it became clear moments after the restart. With La Rochelle up by three Nash won a turnover from the kick-off, allowing Crowley to kick Munster level.
Nash then produced a try-saving tackle to deny Oscar Jegou a certain try at the other end. Energised by the Ireland wing’s exploits, Nash’s team mates raised the bar further.
Tom Farrell stepped up to rob an almost criminally casual Thomas of a try, then Coombes charged down West’s clearance kick at the other end of the field and controlled the loose ball to score.
It got better, with Leyds the second player sent to the bin, gifting Munster field position from where Casey zipped the scoring pass blind to Smith, after Coombes had been held up.
Crowley hammers home decisive nail
Jack Crowley came to France with feverish debate over his future beyond this season. Will it be Leicester Tigers or can he be persuaded to stay at Munster?
The Ireland out-half refused to feed the debate and arrived at Deflandre with eyes only on the European prize up for grabs.
When Munster conceded a penalty try on 66 minutes and suffered the double blow of a yellow card for replacement Alex Kendellen for collapsing the maul, Crowley’s dream was in peril. La Rochelle were back to within a score and had the next 10 minutes to play with a man advantage.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. With Munster creaking at the seams, Crowley received the ball close to halfway and decided route one was the only way to go.
“What a drop goal that was,” said Beirne. “Jack has ice in his veins, we see it in training all the time. It’s testament to his character. The performance over all by him was incredible. He managed the game unbelievably well.”
La Rochelle finished the stronger, scoring a beauty of a try through Hoani Bosmorin but, thanks to Crowley’s moment of magic, it was too little too late. Munster left town with a win for the ages.👀
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