Munster demolish Toulouse to reach Champions Cup semis

Munster came into their Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Toulouse as overwhelming favourites and they showed exactly why as they picked off their fierce European rivals to win 41-16 at Thomond Park.

Battles of aristocrats are always entertaining affairs, and in terms of European rugby, Munster versus Toulouse is one of those ties that always gets the pulse racing. And this one didn’t disappoint. The little bit of needle was evident from the outset with No 8 Francois Cros binned for a cynical late elbow on Duncan Williams just after the scrumhalf had made a clearance kick. Within five minutes Munster had capitalised as Ryan crashed over from close range following a Munster attack off the breakdown. Bleyendaal added the two extra.

Before the ten was up, Bleyendaal added three more from the tee as the Irish province started fast and hard and punished their French opponents while they were stymied by the sin-binning.

But Toulouse worked their way back into the tie when they were returned to a full compliment of 15. Gael Fickou first having a pop at goal, which he missed, before Doussain was successful from the tee.

There was nothing between the teams as the game ticked towards the half-time mark as Bleyendaal added a further penalty, only for Doussain to match his counterpart’s scoring exploits.

Bleyendaal was over for a try four minutes before the break, only for the effort to be ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up from Tommy O’Donnell.

In fact, it was Toulouse who were to have the final say of the first period. Munster were pinged for offside following a knock-on, and with the clock in the red, Doussain slotted the peno to make it a four-point game at half-time.

The kicking duel continued immediately after the restart as Bleyendaal once more extended Munster’s lead with a penalty from the halfway line.

The Irish province grabbed their second try of the tie in the most Munster of fashions. From a lineout in the attacking 22, they mauled to the 5, both Bleyendaal and Dave Kilcoyne had attempts to make it over the line, before Stander finally managed to burrow under the defence and claim the score.

Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony was forced from the field shortly after, limping off as he was replaced by Dave O’Callaghan.

Toulouse looked utterly rattled and the feeling was that one more Munster score would kill them off. But out of nowhere they narrowed the gap. Second row Yoann Maestri broke down the field, releasing winger Perez, with a flat-line pass that looked like it had a hint of forward about, to finish home in the corner. Another successful place kick from Doussain made it an eight-point game with just over a quarter to play. 

With that try the momentum swung as Toulouse laid siege to the Munster 22, spreading wide and powering up the middle, as they looked to pierce a segment of the red rearguard. And the red team also had to cope with the loss of Stander, who like his skipper before him, limped from the field, to be replaced by Jack O’Donoghue. 

The relieving score that Munster desperately craved came with six left on clock. Artur Bonneval was pinged for not releasing on the deck, and Bleyendaal – supreme with the boot all day – slotted another three. The icing on the cake came shortly after. A rush defence from the home team forced Toulouse into a spilled ball in their own 22, which Sweetnam raced onto, volleyed ahead, and then collected to dot down over the line. Once more Bleyendaal was immaculate from the tee. And they had time for one more as Toulouse wilted as the game came to a conclusion. This time Munster went wide left with Bleyendaal looping a precise pass to Conway, who hugged the touchline as he scorched home to secure victory in the most convincing of styles.

The French side are currently languishing tenth in the Top 14, but despite their lowly domestic standing they went toe to toe with Pro12 high flyers Munster in the first 40, with three Jean-Marc Doussain penalties keeping them in touch with Munster, who were just 13-9 ahead at the break courtesy of a John Ryan try and kicked points from Tyler Bleyendaal. 

But Munster’s quality shone through in the second period as CJ Stander, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway all crossed for tries after the break. Bleyendaal had a superb outing at No 10 as he orchestrated the backline supremacy and added his kicks with ruthless efficiency. 

A Paul Perez try had briefly looked like igniting Toulouse in the third quarter, but ultimately they came up against a side that displayed a unity and team ethic that was far above what Toulouse have displayed this season. Munster’s prize is a semi-final against either their Pro12 rivals Glasgow or defending the defending European champions Saracens; whichever side they face, there can no be doubting that Munster are very much contenders to take the European crown in 2017.

Man of the match: John Ryan.