When Munster Met Wasps
22nd April 2004 By Munster Rugby
On the 19th of October 1996, the Munster squad raced onto the Thomond Park pitch for what was to be their third European game in the space of seven days.
On the 19th of October 1996, the Munster squad raced onto the Thomond Park pitch for what was to be their third European game in the space of seven days.
They had opened the 95/96 campaign with a new captain – Mick Galwey and their first Heineken Cup had been against Milan in Musgrave Park the previous Saturday. In between, they travelled to the Arms Park for a mid-week clash with Cardiff a journey that ended in a 48-18 defeat, a result that hardly left the squad in good shape for next opponents Wasps.
Changes for the Wasps game saw, Pat Murray, a replacement in the games v Milan and Cardiff starting at full back with Dominic Crotty moving to the wing. John Fitzgerald and Noel Healy replaced Ian Murray and Paul McCarthy respectively in the front row and David Corkery came into the back row in place of Liam Toland, Lawrence Dallaglio led a star-studded Wasps side that included the world famous Inga the Winga Va aiga Tuigamala, Canadian international out-half Gareth Rees, Andy Gomarsall, Chris Sheasby and Scottish international Damien Cronin.
Munster produced a near perfect performance, ran in seven tries and ended up 29-22 winners. Two Killian Keane penalties sent them on their way and they had scored two tries (Anthony Foley and Mick Galwey) before Sheasby opened the Wasps account which saw the visitors trail 16-5 at the interval Five more tries followed in the second half – Keane, Ben Cronin, Richard Wallace and Dominic Crotty and a penalty try as Wasps wilted in the face of the Munster onslaught.
Killian Keane converted four of those scores to see his side home n hosed long before referee Didier Borreant sounded the final whistle.
Munster Team:
Pat Murray; Richard Wallace, Sean McCahill, Brian Walsh, Dominic Crotty; Killian Keane, Stephen McIvor; John Fitzgerald, Terry Kingston, Noel Healy; Mick Galwey capt, Gabriel Fulcher; Anthony Foley, Ben Cronin, David Corkery.
