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Video | Road To The Champions Cup Semi-Final

16th April 2019 By The Editor

Rhys Marshall and Tyler Bleyendaal following the Champions Cup quarter-final win in Murrayfield.

Rhys Marshall and Tyler Bleyendaal following the Champions Cup quarter-final win in Murrayfield.

Munster face Saracens at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday in the province’s record 14th Champions Cup semi-final after navigating their way through an away quarter-final in Edinburgh and a very difficult Pool that included Exeter, Gloucester and Castres.

Check out the best moments from Munster’s European campaign below.

Video | Road To The Champions Cup Semi-Final

Keith Earls scored tries in each half as Munster edged a colossal battle with Edinburgh in the 17-13 quarter-final victory at Murrayfield.

Joey Carbery kicked a conversion with Tyler Bleyendaal landing a penalty and a vital touchline conversion to secure a precious away win.

With four wins and a draw in six games, Munster topped Pool 2 with 21 points.

The European campaign started with a 10-all draw away to Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in October with an extremely strong gale blowing for the 80 minutes.

Against the wind in the opening 40, Munster trailed 10-3 at the interval but a CJ Stander try and crucial Duncan Williams tackle rescued a draw for the province in a tight game that could have gone either way.

A 36-22 bonus-point victory over Gloucester at Thomond Park followed a week later with Mike Haley, Rhys Marshall, Man of the Match Joey Carbery, Sammy Arnold and Andrew Conway all touching down.

The win saw Munster take top spot in the Pool with the province making the most of a one-man advantage after Danny Cipriani was sent off for a high tackle just short of the half hour.

The December double-header against Castres began with a 30-5 win over the French champions in Limerick. Man of the Match JJ Hanrahan was among the tries and also kicked 100% off the tee with three conversions and three penalties as Rory Scannell and Stander also touched down.

Munster’s only loss of the pool stages saw Castres secure a 13-12 victory at Stade Pierre-Fabre. Joey Carbery kicked four penalties for Munster but Castres managed to grind out the win in difficult conditions.

A very vocal travelling support roared Munster on throughout and the province were able to secure a previous losing bonus-point.

A sensational 41-15 win against Gloucester at a sold-out Kingsholm in January moved Munster further clear at the top of Pool 2.

Man of the Match Carbery (two), Rory Scannell, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway all touched down in the victory. Carbery was flawless off the tee for the third game in a row with the out-half landing all five conversions along with two penalties.

An epic encounter against Exeter rounded off the pool campaign with Munster battling to a tense 9-7 victory at a sold-out Thomond Park.

Carbery was, once again, 100% off the tee with three accurate penalties as a late Billy Holland lineout steal helped the province into the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition once again.

Champions Cup Semi-Final

Saturday, April 20

Saracens v Munster, Ricoh Arena, 3pm;

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