In a keenly contested battle, Toulon had just too much for Munster in the South of France.
Sunshine and blue skies provided the most picturesque of backdrops to Munster’s much anticipated Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon in Marseille.
The French fans are famed for their extravagant and passion fuelled support at home games, but if any travelling fans were to put it up to them, it was going to be Munster’s Red Army who created their own Sea of Red within the Stade Velodrome, more than playing their part in what was one of European Rugby’s greatest atmospheres.
Munster began the game in nervy fashion with an error ridden first half. Lack of composure and ill-discipline at the breakdown saw Johnny Wilkinson awarded 5 kickable penalties, four of which he landed together with a drop goal following a neutralised Munster maul and subsequent Toulon scrum.
While Munster also conceded a number of penalties at scrum time, Toulon returned the favour and the boot of Ian Keatley kept Munster in touch, the number 10 keeping his composure in an intimidating atmosphere to land 3 penalties in the first half.
However as soon as Munster managed to have a foot hold in the game and draw closer to Toulon, they lacked precision and infringed, unable to capitalise on chances out wide and allowed the boot of Wilkinson to maintain Toulon's comfortable lead throughout the first half.
A stamping offence on Conor Murray earned Fernandez Lobbe a yellow card, but Munster failed to utilise the extra man, Wilkinson adding another 6 through his only drop goal and a penalty during the 10 mins.
The kick of the game went to Delon Armitage. With Keith Earls penalised for not releasing, the Toulon full back placekicked from inside his own half to put the home side 18-9 ahead at half time.
Munster began the second half similar to the first, nervy in attack and it took a try saving tackle from Simon Zebo on Steffon Armitage to prevent Toulon from going out of sight. It was perhaps the wake-up call Munster needed as soon after that the province used the maul to great effect, gaining territory with Murray eventually releasing Zebo to touch down in the corner on 51 mins. Keatley was on hand to add the conversion but 5 mins later his penalty from the half way line went just wide of the posts, denying Munster the lead after 56 mins.
Habana and Bastareaud in particular asked questions of the Munster defence throughout the second half with the French centre awarded man of the match. Knock-ons and the sin binning of Earls added to Munster’s woes, the winger tackling the player while not in possession of the ball. Wilkinson added the 3 and were it not for a brilliant charge-down from James Coughlan would have landed another drop goal.
O’ Donnell, Hanrahan, O’Callaghan, Cronin, Casey and Hurley all featured in a second half that saw Munster create and get presented chances which ultimately they failed to take. With 8 mins left, the province chose to kick to the corner rather than for the posts to make it a two point game.
A Wilkinson penalty in front of the posts on 78 mins put the game beyond Munster and earned Toulon a place in the Heineken Cup Final.
Simon Zebo spoke after the game;
“We gave ourselves every opportunity. We were very confident this week. We knew what was ahead of us. We believed we could win. There was a chance there. And we didn’t take it. The silly errors forced us to come away with a loss.”
Full time score – Toulon 24 Munster 16
Munster: Felix Jones (Hurley 73); Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey (Hanrahan 64), Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne (Cronin 65), Damien Varley Capt (Casey 76)., BJ Botha; Dave Foley (O’Callaghan 15), Paul O'Connell; CJ Stander, Sean Dougall (O’Donnell 56), James Coughlan. Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, John Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Denis Hurley.
