Munster 12-20 Harlequins - Amlin Cup Semi Final 2011
By AlanQuin
May 1 2011
It is, perhaps, fitting that in adding another fantastic victory to the pantheon of such occasions in Harlequin history with the defeat of Munster at Thomond Park by 12 – 20 Quins face a final in Cardiff against the victim of two other such famous victories, Stade Français. But that is for the future. What needs to be said immediately is that it is hard to recall any occasion, other than those two matches against Stade Français, when a Harlequins’ side produced a performance of such quality, passion, and determination.
Harlequins started the match at pace and attacking with everything they had and Munster was soon pinned in their own twenty-two until an inevitable error allowed Munster a scrum. A free kick at the set-piece allowed the beginning of a Munster attack, but that ended with a knock on in the tackle on half way. Harlequins continued to press their attacks and a break by Evans ended with a Munster penalty for holding on after the tackle. O’Gara’s kick was surprisingly modest and did little to gain territory and a poor clearance, out on the full, gave Quins a line-out on the Munster twenty-two.
Quins continued to attack and a wide pass from Evans to Comacho sent the winger on a run past Howlett and Earls. He was stopped a couple of metres short of the line, but the ball was moved fast to the right and there George Robson scored in the corner. Evans added an excellent conversion from the touchline and after nine minutes Harlequins led 0 – 7.
Quins continued to play with pace and pressure on Munster was intense. A chip over the defence for Monye to chase forced the defender to carry over his own line and concede a five metre scrum. Though Quins continued to apply pressure, a knock-on and then a penalty, conceded at a scrum close to the try-line, allowed O’Gara to clear to half-way. A poor tap down from the lineout allowed Coughlan to gather and gallop into Quins territory but he was stopped on the twenty-two and a penalty to Quins ended the thrust. Eighteen minutes from the start and that was the first time Munster had reached the Quins twenty-two, so weighty had been Quins domination of possession and territory.
Quins continued to dominate their opponents and had two opportunities to increase their lead, but two kickable penalties were inexplicably missed by Nick Evans. Then an injury to Evans, caused in a collision with Turner-Hall left the fly half hobbling. But Quins continued to attack and a chip through from Danny Care again caused the defence to carry over their own line and gave Quins an attacking platform. Evans, apparently recovered went close but was stopped a metre short of the line. Quins, however, retained the ball and Danny Care went over at the side of the ruck by the post. The video referee was satisfied and Care quickly converted his own try. The lead was now 0 – 14 after thirty-four minutes.
With only two minutes remaining in the half, a typically pin-point kick from O’Gara gave Munster a lineout very close to Quins’ try line. From that position they secured quick ball and moved it sharply across the field where their full back, Jones, had a simple cut through for the try. O’Gara added the extras and at half time Quins led 7 – 14.
Clegg replaced the injured Evans at half-time. Munster, not surprisingly introduced O’Connell, Hayes and Tuitupou at half-time and soon followed with Stringer and through the half used the whole of their bench in an attempt to overcome the visitors. Ceri Jones, with fifteen minutes remaining, and Vallejos, for Kohn, after Easter was removed by a second yellow card, were the only Quins’ changes. That Munster would come back at Quins in the second half was to be expected and, having sent for the cavalry, that is exactly what they tried to do. Their powerful forwards began to gain yards with drive after drive until the strong Harlequin defence caused an error as Munster knocked on. A free kick to Harlequins at the scrum allowed Brown to kick to touch and push them back p the half way line.
A little scuffle off the ball resulted in yellow cards for Easter and O’Callaghan while a penalty at a breakdown allowed Clegg to increase the lead to 7 – 17. Quins continued to attack and a fine kick from Monye took play down into the Munster twenty-two and shortly after a fine touch kick from Clegg produced a five metre lineout. For a knock on at the lineout Quins had a scrum and then a penalty in front of the posts allowed Clegg to increase the lead again.
Munster were becoming ever more frenzied in attacks which broke down as passes went to touch or behind the intended recipient. Then George Lowe, chasing a kick through into the in-goal area, appeared to have been tripped off the ball. The fanatical Munster support held their breath expecting a penalty try, but the video referee ruled against it.
Muster continued to attack and then waste their efforts in the face of the strong Quins defence. Twice good try scoring chances went begging when Howlett crossed the line only to be called back for a forward pass before the ball reached him. A rush of blood took Easter in at the side of a ruck and earned him a red card for a second yellow card offence with ten minutes of the match remaining. Another clever chip and chase by the former All Black was carefully outrun by Mike Brown. Munster appeared to be scared of losing rather than intent on winning.
Eventually the pressure told. With only three minutes remaining Howlett broke through in the corner to score. From the touchline, O’Gara’s conversion attempt sailed wide and eight points still adrift, the game was done.
This was without doubt one of the most significant and notable victories in Harlequin history and showed just what this young team of mostly England qualified players is capable of becoming. Individually, George Robson was superb in the lineout and rampaged well in the loose. Fa’asavalu’s hit on Earls was a notable one and he was a force in attack. Care showed what the England scrum-half should be while Clegg, thrown into the cauldron by Evans’ injury, was calm and kicked beautifully and accurately. The defence was awesome.
After the match, Conor O’Shea was delighted with the success. “We won the toss and (our captain) Chris Robshaw came up to me and said that he wanted to play into the wind because he wanted us to play our game," said O'Shea.
"The minute he said that I knew we would be fine in terms of bringing our game to Thomond. I'm delighted for the players because of the work that they have put in. We might not have the squad size that a lot of teams have but we have a hell of a lot of heart. I'm incredibly proud, as you can imagine for various different reasons.
"But the horrible thing is that we have done nothing. We have won a semi-final. My dad has a saying that a good semi-final never makes a good final, so we're going to have to make sure that that doesn't happen. But the guys will have today's win in their locker forever and a day.”
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick (S Tuitupou h-t), K Earls (J Murphy 64); R O'Gara, C Murray (P Stringer 56); W Du Preez, D Varley (M Sherry 73), T Buckley (J Hayes h-t); D O'Callaghan (D Ryan 67), M O'Driscoll (P O'Connell h-t); D Leamy, D Wallace, J Coughlan.
Harlequins: M Brown; G Camacho, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Moyne; N Evans (R Clegg 44), D Care; J Marler (C Jones 65), J Gray, J Johnston; O Kohn (T Vellejos 72), G Robson; M Fa'asavalu, C Robshaw, N Easter.
Referee: R Poite (France).
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Very many thanks Alan