Resilient Munster Rugby celebrate famous Champions Cup win over Toulon

MUNSTER Rugby greatly boosted their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of this season's Investec Champions Cup after securing a sensational 29-18 bonus point victory over Toulon at the Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday afternoon.

Two-time winners Munster fought back brilliantly after falling 10 points in arrears at the end of the first quarter to stun Toulon with four tries from centre Alex Nankivell, full-back Simon Zebo, second-row Tom Ahern and winger Calvin Nash.

Man of the Match Jack Crowley added nine points off the kicking tee.

Following their first win of the campaign, Munster sit in third place in their pool on eight points, three points clear of fourth-placed Glasgow and five ahead of Bayonne with one round of pool fixtures to come. The top four sides in the pool will qualify for the knock-out stages following the final round of games next weekend. 

Munster face Northampton Saints in their final pool fixture at Thomond Park on Saturday next, 5.30pm.

Munster led Toulon 17-13 at the end of a topsy turvy opening 40 minutes in the South of France. 

A converted Duncan Paia'aua try and Melvyn Jaminet penalty gave Toulon an early lead.

However, tries from Nankivell and Zebo, off Crowley's delightfully-weighted chip in behind the Toulon defence, sparked a Munster comeback that had the visitors in front at the break.

Two further tries after the restart from Ahern, a score created by another well measured Crowley kick, and Limerick winger Nash, who did superbly to collect Craig Casey's box-kick before scooting clear to score, had Munster in control.

Munster's second-half scores came either side of a Cornell du Preez try for Toulon, who were unable to stop Graham Rowntree's side from recording their first win at the Mayol.

RC TOULON: Melvyn Jaminet; Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu, Duncan Paia'aua, Leicester Fainga'anuku; Dan Biggar, Ben White; Dany Priso, Christopher Tolofua, Kieran Brookes; Matthias Halagahu, David Ribbans (capt); Cornell du Preez, Selevasio Tolofua, Facundo Isa Replacements: Jack Singleton, Bruce Devaux, Beka Gigashvili, Brian Alainu'uese, Jules Coulon, Jules Danglot, Jérémy Sinzelle, Setariki Tuicuvu

MUNSTER RUGBY: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Brian Gleeson, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Seán O'Brien.

REFEREE: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)