HEC Semi-Final Toulon v Munster, Stade Velodrome, Marseille

First topic message reminder :

KO 16.30 (local time; 15.30 YTC) Sunday April 27th.  Yet another Day of Destiny for Munster Rugby.

So far the only participants we know for definite are
Referee:  Wayne Barnes

ARs:  JP Doyle; Luke Pearce

TMO: Graham Hughes.

All the officials are from England.

Friday 25th - edited with team announcements.

Toulon
Delon Armitage;
Drew Mitchell, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana;
Jonny Wilkinson (c), Sebastien Tillous-Borde;
Xavier Chiocci, Craig Burden, Carl Hayman,
Danie Rossouw, Jocelino Suta,
Juan Smith, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Steffon Armitage.
Remplaçants : Jean-Charles Orioli, Alexandre Menini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Virgile Bruni, David Smith, Maxime Mermoz, Michael Claassens, Konstantine Mikautadze.

Munster
Felix Jones;
Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo;
Ian Keatley, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley Capt., BJ Botha;
Dave Foley, Paul O'Connell;
CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, John Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Denis Hurley.

As my stomach is already churning when I think of Sunday, I thought I would start the ball rolling on the topic.

Munster Abú

The pressure coming from Toulon is unreal. Great tackle

And Zebo cant defend...

Munster have lost the head.

Keep calm and dont be stupid ffs.

Desperate defence here. Only staying in the match due to Toulons handling...

U can't spin the ball in your own 22 repeatedly against Toulon...suicide

Habana is popping up all over the place and Munster are really struggling to keep him quiet.

Thank god Habana is going off.

Making our own problems again...need control

This is better.

Fair play to Munster - showing some character...

ZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Can anyone be a pal and PM me a link that works?

ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

game on

Wow.  Munster just caught a break there.  It is now very much GAME ON!!!

Feck me. That was a ballsy call to go for the corner, and it paid off.

But I can't believe they didn't go to the TMO.

They sure that wasn't held up?

A little lucky that didn't go to the TMO I think

ME-109 wrote:ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebbbbbbbbbbbbooooooooooooo

+8001

Come on munster!!!

So he was held up initially and then he managed to squirm and ground the ball. How long does the ball need to be held up to be held up?

Surprised they didn't go to tMO. Looked like armitage had his arm under it. Must have been grounded when everyone piled on top. Tough judge was sure

Like the commentator said, staggering decision not to go to the TMO.

But if it did, it looks like he did score, so it doesn't matter.

The tide is turning...

Notch wrote:Feck me. That was a ballsy call to go for the corner, and it paid off.

But I can't believe they didn't go to the TMO.

No need. TJ says he saw it grounded.

Zebo lands on his back, then places on the arm then the ball disappears from the view of the camera behind the line. TJ had clear view, we have not seen that view.

LT spot on, touch judge had the view from the other side to camera angle I saw.

The AR definitely had a better view than any of the TV cameras would of, thats for sure. Actually refreshing to see an AR make a big call when he has the view.

Toulon look a little rocked. Time for JJ?

Notch wrote:The AR definitely had a better view than any of the TV cameras would of, thats for sure. Actually refreshing to see an AR make a big call when he has the view.

Agree with that.  Too many AR's appear to be just passive observers.

Refreshing to see the touch judge actually make a decision. Usually they might as well be sitting in the stands

Ah jaysus, Munster you can't throw away chances like that.

George Carlin wrote:Can anyone be a pal and PM me a link that works?

  

Red card for Earls...

Nice dive there Smith

Amazed that's only a yellow...

Ronaldo would be proud of that

Stupid from Earls. That will be costly

Oh Keith. What have you done?

Another mistake by Earls

All is good. JJ is on

Munster going to have to do this the hard way now.

Mountain to climb

Fantastic from the fans. Always make themselves count

Those butchered opportunities are gonna cost Munster

I think that's a mistake.

Surely that's a crazy decision to go for a try with 14 men!

What on earth is POC thinking?

What a charming and respectful man Delon Armitage is...

All Munster now but too little too late I fear.

Why did Stander peel off?!?