Munster Rugby secure away last 16 tie in Heineken Champions Cup after Toulouse defeat

MUNSTER Rugby booked an away date in the last 16 stage of the Heineken Champions Cup in April, picked up a losing bonus point in their 20-16 defeat to Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon.

Resilient Munster recovered from a very slow start which saw them fall 11 points behind in the first quarter to hit the front in the third quarter, thanks to tries from John Hodnett and a terrific team effort, finished by Tadhg Beirne.

However, two penalty goals from the boot of Jaminet in the final quarter saw Toulouse record a four-point victory.

Munster got off to a disappointing start against the aristocrats of French rugby who had won the previous fixture between the sides in Limerick in December.

The visitors fell 0-8 in arrears inside as many minutes, with Juan Cruz Mallia crossing for a try for the home side in the corner.

Toulouse then moved into a 11-0 lead on 17 minutes when Melvyn Jaminet kicked his second penalty of the contest.

Munster looked to be on ropes in a hugely physical opening to the game. However, the two-time European Cup winners dug in to haul themselves back into contention before half-time.

The visitors also lost full-back Mike Haley to what appeared to be an ankle injury on 27 minutes. Haley was replaced by New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa.

The score the visitors craved so badly arrived on 31 minutes when back-row John Hodnett barged over, with a little help from Jean Kleyn, following a spell of concerted pressure close to the Toulouse tryline.

Carbery missed the conversion, but did add a late penalty to leave one score between the teams at half-time and the visitors well in contention.

Munster then hit the front eight minutes into the second half after scoring a spectacular team try. Their ball handling in the lead up to the score was terrific as replacement Fekitoa, number Coombes and winger Daly all threw delightful offloads to send the sniping Casey into space.

The scrum-half then threw another well-timed off-load and after Carbery went crossfield with a kick to Hodnett, the ball recycled and the inspirational Beirne wdotted down.

Munster were in front for the first time at 13-11.

Jaminet then kicked Toulouse back in front with a 57th minute penalty, for 14-13, before the lead changed hands again as replacement Ben Healy dissected the uprights with a penalty goal on the hour mark.

Toulouse were back in front in the 67th minute, 17-16, when Jaminet kicked his fourth penalty of the game.

Healy was later sin-binned for a tackle fend on Barassi which was deemed to be dangerous. It looked like a harsh call. 

A 73rd minute penalty from Jaminet from out on the left ultimately sealed victory for the Top 14 side.

TOULOUSE: Melvyn Jaminet; Juan Cruz Mallía, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Pita Ahki, Dimitri Delibes; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (Capt); Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Dorian Aldegheri; Richie Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou; Anthony Jelonch, Jack Willis, Alexandre Roumat. Replacements: Guillaume Cramont, Rodrigue Neti, David Ainu’u, Thibaud Flament, Joshua Brennan, Francois Cros, Ange Capuozzo, Arthur Retiere.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (Capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Jack O’Sullivan, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Ben Healy, Malakai Fekitoa.

REFEREE: Karl Dickson (England).