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

wales606 wrote:Surely that's a crazy decision to go for a try with 14 men!

What on earth is POC thinking?

He's not captain. But I agree

What kind of advantage was that?

Should have taken the points! Plenty time left to score another

Not taking the points there has to be the most un-Munster thing I've ever seen

HammerofThunor wrote:

wales606 wrote:Surely that's a crazy decision to go for a try with 14 men!

What on earth is POC thinking?

He's not captain. But I agree

If they had a set piece move up their sleeves... but it was just a bog-standard maul.

Another bad decision going for the DG

Charge down has just kept Munster in the game.

James Coughlan...effing hell

Coughlan came from about 8 miles away to make that charge down

It looked easier for Toulon to score a try there than go for a drop goal.

Coughlan is everything Munster represents.

This is it now, must win the scrum and get a try from somewhere...

We have to win...I hate these nuggety losses....

That's the end. Well played Toulon.

That's it now..

That's the game right there.  All over.

Thats it.

And that's the game gone.
A Saracens - Toulon final   

Oof. Thats it.

Gutted for Munster.

Hard luck Munster.

Have to say that this is a proper game of rugby. Seems the French only turn up at home.

Cracking game.

Brave play by Munster, matched them up front but not the same strength behind the scrum. Toulon probably deserved in the end

Looks like the money wins now

Well done Toulon

Congratulations to Toulon and hard luck to Munster.

Great game. Well played both sides.

Munster were superb. But the Toulon steamroller rolls on.

Commisserations Munster.

Absolutely gutted. Toulon were there for the taking. 2 Earls brainfarts were very costly in the end, that and the handling in the first half.

First half discipline cost us...what a pity....a bunch of mercenaries...the final will be the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable to coin a phrase.

Wonder how many will be at the final...10 man and a dog by the look of things yesterday.

I honestly would like to see Sarries win but I also really want Jonny Wilkinson to sign off with a win.

Nachos Jones wrote:I honestly would like to see Sarries win but I also really want Jonny Wilkinson to sign off with a win.

I hope the millenium stadium falls on the lot of them.

Not to worry though it will be empty so no one will be bothered.

Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

Notch wrote:Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

Not a hope...he didnt hit enough rucks. Plus he scored a try....we dont like some of our wingers to do that.

Well done Toulon!

They really should have finished Munster off just after half-time. Fair play though, Munster are quite plucky (if a bit naive).

Looking forward to the final! Would like to see Sarries do well but it would also be good for Jonny to have a fairytale ending. Either wouldn't be bad.

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

Not a hope...he didnt hit enough rucks. Plus he scored a try....we dont like some of our wingers to do that.

Don't forget his try saving tackle, that's sure to see him behind Dave Kearney

How can you not love a team like Munster, they represent what is so great about rugby and passion.

Reckon they would have won the semi last year and this one has it been in Ireland.

Nachos Jones wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

Not a hope...he didnt hit enough rucks. Plus he scored a try....we dont like some of our wingers to do that.

Don't forget his try saving tackle, that's sure to see him behind Dave Kearney

Yes..I thought his technique was very poor in that tackle...he does a lot of those try saving tackles sweeping across...clearly not good.

I can understand why they went for the corner five points down and down to 14 men...but we should have taken the three points....bad decision

Pot Hale wrote:Great game.   Well played both sides.

Munster were superb.  But the Toulon steamroller rolls on.

Agree. Neither team really opened it up, but intense and well played.
Munster could have been out earlier, but character shows.
Took a very good match by Toulon to beat them.
Two class teams.

VinceWLB wrote:How can you not love a team like Munster, they represent what is so great about rugby and passion.

Reckon they would have won the semi last year and this one has it been in Ireland.

Our luck in the draw is just pants...we would have mullered them in Ireland.

Nachos Jones wrote:I honestly would like to see Sarries win but I also really want Jonny Wilkinson to sign off with a win.

Yeah, I know what you mean. It'll be nice to watch a game where either outcome is pretty good

VinceWLB wrote:How can you not love a team like Munster, they represent what is so great about rugby and passion.

Reckon they would have won the semi last year and this one has it been in Ireland.

The team do,it's a pity some of their supporters on here don't have some of their class.

Notch wrote:Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

He needs to be consistent first - he was awful against Glasgow

geoff998rugby wrote:

Notch wrote:Simon Zebo should have done enough to force his way back into the Ireland 23 after that performance.

He needs to be consistent first - he was awful against Glasgow

He made one mistake. That doesnt count as awful and the team as a whole werent great. Trimble was awful against Glasgow are you saying he should be dropped?

Excellent effort from Munster but poor restarts, playing too much in their own half and a lack of tactical kicking cost Munster badly.

I thought Zebo was impressive in his interview - very honest and measured when asked about his try.

ME-109 wrote:Wonder how many will be at the final...10 man and a dog by the look of things yesterday.

Other than the 6000 tickets for the finalist nearly all tickets sold I believe so 50,000+ guaranteed

geoff998rugby wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Wonder how many will be at the final...10 man and a dog by the look of things yesterday.

Other than the 6000 tickets for the finalist nearly all tickets sold I believe so 50,000+ guaranteed

Will they bother...50000 thats a poor attendance for the final

ME-109 wrote:I can understand why they went for the corner five points down and down to 14 men...but we should have taken the three points....bad decision

I don't know, at the time I thought it was the right decision, Toulon were rattled and I honestly thought that Munster might push over. I value the points argument but thought the decision was correct at the time.