Munster Head Coach and former Springboks forwards’ coach Johann van Graan watched in anguish from the stands as hosts Racing 92 snatched victory in a frantic final minutes in the Champions Cup.
Munster looked set to complete a remarkable comeback when they took a 30-28 lead with just five minutes to play, but Racing found an extra gear to win a penalty from the kick-off in the 76th minute and added another two minutes later to keep alive their Champions Cup aspirations.
Several South African players featured prominently in this weekend’s Champions Cup matches.
Full reports of the Champions Cup and European Challenge matches can be read on the official
tournament site.
The Racing win in Paris was undoubtedly the pick of Sunday’s matches.
Racing 34 Munster 30
Racing 92 edged a pulsating first ever European match at the brand new U Arena but Munster’s losing bonus point keeps them top of Champions Cup Pool 4.
- Maxime Machenaud finished with 20 points for the hosts, whose victory puts them one point behind the Irishmen going into next weekend’s pool stage climax.
- The sides exchanged tries in the first half through Yannick Nyanga and Jean Kleyn, with Machenaud’s boot the difference as the hosts led 13-7 at the interval. Missed penalties by Conor Murray and Ian Keatley proved costly for the visitors.
- Marc Andreu squeezed over in the corner for Racing’s second try but Keith Earls’ balletic footwork saw him brilliantly reduce arrears to 18-14.
- Chris Farrell’s try then gave Munster the advantage before an exchange of penalties saw the lead change hands. Racing struck a big blow, though, when Teddy Thomas set up Dimitri Szarzewski to put them 28-27 ahead.
- A monster penalty by Murray was swiftly followed by three points from the tee by Machenaud and the French scrum-half was faultless again as he clinched a dramatic win with another late kick.
- Munster know a bonus-point win at home to Castres Olympique next Sunday afternoon will guarantee top spot. Racing 92 travel to Leicester Tigers and must better Munster’s result or face the perils of the best runners-up calculator.
Toulon 36 Benetton 0
RC Toulon set up a mouth-watering Pool 5 finale against Scarlets as they picked up what could be a crucial bonus point against Benetton Rugby.
- Knowing the potential importance of a bonus point, the Felix Mayol crowd were anxious at half time after Toulon had only built a 10-0 lead courtesy of a try, conversion and penalty by fly-half Anthony Belleau.
- However, once Fijian powerhouse Josua Tuisova had rampaged past Edoardo Gori and Luca Sperandio to score just after the resumption, Benetton’s stout resistance was broken.
- Captain Mathieu Bastareaud led a driving maul which saw him bundle over for Toulon’s third. The bonus-clinching fourth arrived when Semi Radrada’s lovely floated pass enabled Tuisova to thunder through for his second.
- Hugo Bonneval added a fifth, stretching over after Bastareaud managed a skilful offload despite being sandwiched between two Italian tacklers.
- The qualification scenario for next weekend is that the winner of Scarlets v Toulon goes through as Pool winners.
- If Toulon are defeated in that game but get a losing bonus point and Bath earn five points against Benetton, they will finish level on 18 points. Obviously, if Bath only earn four points in Italy and Toulon lose in west Wales with no bonus point, they will be level on 17. In both those scenarios, Toulon will finish second as they have the better head-to-head record.
Leinster 55 Glasgow 19
Leinster scored eight tries against an under-strength Glasgow Warriors to seal top spot in Pool 3 and a home Champions Cup quarter-final.
- The Irish province got the job done with a blistering first-half display as Glasgow were unable to deal with their quick, slick handling.
- Jordi Murphy was the first to go over after seven minutes and although the Scottish side levelled through the dancing feet of Fijian Niko Matawalu, Isa Nacewa sliced through to get Leinster’s second soon afterwards.
- Leinster overcame a yellow card for Murphy with Sean Cronin adding a third and Scott Fardy a bonus point-securing fourth after just 35 minutes. Jonny Sexton flopped over in the corner for a fifth before half time to make it 34-7.
- From a lineout, Nacewa added his second and Leinster’s sixth try after half-time, and although Adam Ashe reduced arrears for Glasgow James Lowe soon hit back with his first Champions Cup try for Leinster.
- Matawalu got his second and Glasgow’s third, but Fardy ensured the final cheers were Irish by spinning away from a driving maul to touch down Leinster’s eighth try.
- Having secured a home quarter-final, Leinster can now take their foot off the gas somewhat at Montpellier next Saturday as the French side battle for second spot with Exeter – who visit bottom side Glasgow.
Castres 39 Leicester Tigers 0
Leicester Tigers were soundly beaten on their first trip to the Stade Pierre Fabre in the battle of the bottom two in European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 4.
- Leicester made 13 changes to the side who beat London Irish in the Aviva Premiership, knowing their hopes of reaching the knockout stages had long since gone.
- Consequently, the hosts raced into a 20-0 lead inside 25 minutes, with Benjamin Urdapilleta finishing off his own chip over the top and then converting.
- He then added a couple of penalties before another kick scuppered the Tigers defence and Armand Batlle fed Thomas Combezou for a simple finish.
- A long period of Leicester pressure came to nought and Ludovic Radosavjevic’s quick penalty allowed Combezou to waltz in for his second to make it 27-0 at the break.
- Leicester continued to pressurise and had a Tom Brady try disallowed, before their misery was compounded by Armand Batlle touching down in the corner late on.
