Munster suffer defeat to Toulouse
MATCH REPORT: Munster were defeated 16-20 in an enthralling Champions Cup Round 4 tussle with Stade Toulouse at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday.
The Irish province, who needs an improbable bonus-point win at the five-time champions to grab a home Round of 16 tie, crossed through John Hodnett and Tadhg Beirne, with Joey Carbery and Ben Healy also contributing penalties as they led on several occasions in the second half.
Juan Cruz Mallía went over early on for Toulouse, but it was five penalties from Melvyn Jaminet that proved decisive for them as they clinched home advantage in the Round of 16.
Toulouse were ahead on two minutes through full-back Jaminet’s first penalty and the hosts would go on to boss the opening exchanges.
Relentless pressure on the Munster rearguard eventually resulted in wing Cruz Mallía crossing in the corner on seven minutes, and although Jaminet’s conversion drifted just wide, he increased Toulouse’s lead with a second penalty shortly after.
Munster lacked continuity in attack for the first half an hour, but the Irish province would cross on their first meaningful visit to the Toulouse 22 as flanker Hodnett burrowed over from close range.
Joey Carbery was off target with the conversion, but Munster’s confidence was brimming after their score, and the fly-half had another crack at the posts on 35 minutes which he duly took to reduce the deficit to three points.
There was another lift for Munster as they produced a terrific defensive effort to keep Toulouse out before half-time, and they started the second half in a similar fashion.
The scorers
For Munster:
Tries: Hodnett, Beirneh
Cons: Carbery, Healy
For Toulouse:
Tries: Mallia
Pens: Jaminet 5
Toulouse: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Juan Cruz Mallía, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Dimitri Delibes, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 David Ainu’u, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Joshua Brennan, 21 Francois Cros, 22 Ange Capuozzo, 23 Arthur Retiere
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Jack Crowley, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dave Kilcoyne
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Jack O’Sullivan, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Dan Jones (England), Phil Watters (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
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