Nervy Munster edge past heroic Montauban

by Declan Johnstone 10 October 2008

Munster (10) 19 Montauban (3) 17

Defending champions Munster were given a huge scare by unfancied Montauban, requiring a late penalty from Ronan O’Gara to save their blushes at newly-refurbished Thomond Park.

The Heineken Cup debutants came within two minutes of causing a sensational upset that would have sent shockwaves around Europe, but in the end the Irish side drew just deep enough to scrape a win they hardly deserved.

The Top 14 side out-fought their more illustrious opponents, showing greater tenacity and cohesion for most of the match despite making 10 changes from the side which lost to Stade Francais at the weekend.

Their shining light was man-of-the-match Petra Mitu, the diminutive Romanian scrum-half who cajoled his team throughout, displaying a tigerish tenacity behind his forwards that easily overshadowed opposing half-back Peter Stringer.

He was also responsible for place-kicking duties and gave the visitors an early boost when he landed a fifth-minute penalty to put them 0-3 ahead. He scuffed a more straightforward opportunity shortly after – a crucial miss as it turned out - but his constant sniping behind the scrum ensured Munster were never able to settle.

His out of hand kicking from around the fringes was also incisive, alleviating pressure and gaining valuable yardage for a team widely written off before the match.

Indeed, perhaps it was complacency that played its hand in Munster’s sluggish performance, for how else can you explain the result. Here was a mid-table Top 14 team, and an under-strength one at that, making its Heineken Cup debut away to the reigning champions. It had no brainer written all over it, but that’s exactly how Munster played – without thought.

It was such a flat performance even the 23,500 crowd were strangely subdued for long periods, as if shocked by the temerity of those pesky French visitors.

Their early play was error-strewn with a series of knock-ons and forward passes preventing them building any sustained momentum.

Indeed, it took them half an hour to even get on the scoreboard - Ronan O’Gara kicking a 30m penalty – and they then stole a hardly deserved lead shortly before the interval when Barry Murphy stepped in from the right wing after a rare flowing move. It may have been just reward for spurning an easy three points but didn’t reflect the equality of a scrappy first half.
Munster always looked capable of upping the ante but failed to slip the gears as Montauban’s defence stood firm, and the 10-3 interval deficit was harsh on the visitors.

A half-time breather enabled both sides to regroup but the expected home push failed to materialise with Montauban keeping their discipline to earn two early penalties. Mitu was again successful with his first but missed the second, lifting them to within four points as they continued to press the champions.

O’Gara and Mitu then exchanged further penalties before the French side shocked Thomond Park into silence as winger Sylvain Jonnet latched on to an intercepted pass and kept his cool to score a deserved try.

Mitu just missed the conversion but the Top 14 side were back in the lead, an advantage they desperately clung on to as an increasingly worried crowd urged the Irish on.

When O’Gara ‘s 60th-minute penalty hit the uprights it seemed the dream might actually become reality for the team who only ascended into Top 14 three years ago, but the Heineken Cup’s record points scorer was back in business four minutes later as Munster crept back into a narrow lead.

But Montauban continued to press as the game reached a crescendo and got their reward when Mitu kicked a 40m penalty to regain the lead four minutes from time. But just when it seemed the impossible could occur Munster dug just deep enough to force the concession of a final decisive penalty. O’Gara duly stepped up and did the business, saving the champions an ignominious start to their cup defence. 

“We made a lot of mistakes,” admitted Munster captain Paul O’Connell. “They [Montauban] put up a very good performance and they would be disappointed they lost. It was a disappointing performance from us but they did very well.”

** Perpignan came back from an early 0-10 deficit to get their Heineken Cup campaign off to a winning start by  beating Treviso 27-16.

Jerome Porical and Jean-Philippe Grandclaude both scored tries, in addition to a penalty try, while stand-in fly-half David Mele dropped a brace of goals.

Earlier, Treviso wing Emiliano Mulieri had touched down for the opening try of the match, with Andrea Marcato adding a penalty and conversion to give the Italians a shock lead.

It was never likely to last but Perpignan's failure to score a fourth try, and bonus point, could come back to haunt them.

 

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