Here is Gerry Thornley’s match report:
[ Munster roll back the years with epic road victory over La RochelleOpens in new window ]
As Ronan O’Gara knows as well as anyone, there’s something about the Champions Cup that brings something special out of Munster and their fans. The province he piloted to their trophy wins in 2006 and 2008 may not have added a third triumph since those halcyon days but, all the more so in warm French air, Munster are still inspired to produce extraordinary wins on unforgettable days.
They survived La Rochelle storms at the start and at the end but did enough in between to strike stealthily, as well as scrambling for their lives in defence. The second of La Rochelle’s back to back triumphs was less than two years ago and they probably possess a more expensive and celebrated squad than Munster these days, but for the umpteenth time they defied the odds away from home.
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That’s all from me for tonight, good night!
Tadhg Beirne on Premier Sports:
The belief going into this week, we’re underdogs, but we knew there was a bit more in us. There always is in this competition. Then you see the travelling support here, we’re an away game, to have so many here, it brings our energy up.
The first 20 minutes, we wanted to start well, we knew there would be a bit of a storm, they came at us, unlucky not to get a few tries. I thought we controlled the first part of the second half. It ebbed and flowed but we got there in the end.
On Jack Crowley: It’s a testament to his character (the drop goal). The performance from him today was incredible, I thought he managed the game really well, fair play to him.
An astonishing moment in a game with lots of them, Teddy Thomas decision here not to go wide was very costly:
80 mins: A minute left. La Rochelle surge forward. Several phases by La Rochelle, but Beirne again grabs Jegou and Munster get the penalty!
Wycherley is being checked for a high tackle. Referee says it is a legal tackle.
Full-time: La Rochelle 24 Munster 25
Munster have beaten La Rochelle! What a second half performance, controversy at the end, but one of their most famous days.
Jack Crowley won man of the match, but lots of big moments from Beirne in the second half. Casey with the first try, Coombes with the amazing block. The big players stood up.
What ended up being the winning drop goal.
79 mins: Munster turn over the ball, Beirne again! But then Alldritt then turns it back over. Tense ending to this one... Hastoy kicks another monster one into touch.
La Rochelle 24 Munster 25
78 mins: Munster keeping possession, wasting time with many phases. La Rochelle eventually turn it over and Hastoy kicks a monster one. La Rochelle must score.
Maul, then a beautiful crossfield kick by Hastoy and Try for La Rochelle! Bosmorin scores well after it set up nicely for him. Massive conversion and it’s a one-point game! What a finish to this one.
La Rochelle 24 Munster 25
75 mins: Beirne poaches the ball and the Munster crowd goes wild! They’ve been heroic since going down to 14 men. Only two minutes left with 14 men.
La Rochelle 17 Munster 25
73 mins: Another big turnover by Munster! Smith chases down Leyds, O’Mahony and Kleyn roar on from the sideline.
La Rochelle 17 Munster 25
69 mins: Murray with a long box kick and Kerr-Barlow mistimes the jump and knocks it on. Some respite for Munster.
Drop goal scored by Munster! Jack Crowley sits in the pocket and slots over a brilliant drop goal! How important could that be? Eight-point game now.
La Rochelle 17 Munster 25
Penalty try to La Rochelle and a yellow card for Kendellen! Oh dear, big moment in the game. Conor Murray on for Craig Casey. 14 minutes to go, 10 of them with 14 men...
La Rochelle 17 Munster 22
66 mins: La Rochelle win a penalty and West kicks it right for a five-metre lineout, fine kick. From the lineout they win another penalty, kicked back into touch. Munster under the cosh. Strong maul this time, comes just short of the line. Advantage for La Rochelle, but they’re checking the TMO for further foul play.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
64 mins: La Rochelle knock it forward once more, Ahern smashing into Cancoriet, he’s made a big impact. Kendellan comes on for Hodnett, who has had a big game.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
61 mins: Again it’s turned over, this time by La Rochelle, but the lineout goes to Munster, Ahern off the bench with a big intervention. Casey clears.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
58 mins: Farrell finds a gap and Munster were almost through again, but the pass is misplaced. Hastoy clears it long and Crowley tries to get it but knocks it out of play with his hand. Dangerous lineout for La Rochelle, which turns into a maul. But La Rochelle end up out of play!
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
55 mins: Munster winning all the small battles this half. What a turnaround it’s been, still a while to go, but looking good for the Irish province. Unfortunately Abrahams goes off with injury, he was superb today. Rory Scannell into the game.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
52 mins: Another electric attack by Munster with quick passing by Abrahams down the wing and Casey kicks down the wing, Thomas taps it down on his own line. Referee checking for an intentional knock-on by Leyds.
Yellow card for La Rochelle! Leyds penalised and penalty for Munster. Crowley kicks into touch, five-metre lineout.
Nearly another try for Coombes, held up on the line... then it goes to Smith and TRY FOR MUNSTER! What a second half performance so far. Crowley misses the conversion.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 22
49 mins: TRY FOR MUNSTER! Gavin Coombes with a brilliant block from West, then kicks it and touches it down. Wow! Crowley converts.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 17
46 mins: La Rochelle burst forward at speed, several swift passes, Skelton with a good lay-off, down the wing and Nash makes a vital tackle to knock Jegou out of play. The lineout though is sloppy and it’s judged to be knocked forward by Munster.
La Rochelle backs twist and turn and try to get through as they go side to side. Farrell scrambles to stop Thomas when he looked like he was gonna get over, then Munster turn it over. Questionable decision by Thomas not to go wide instead of back inside there. Looked a certain try if he went wide. Brilliant defence though.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 10
42 mins: Penalty scored by Munster! After the restart, Nash turns the ball over and Crowley scores the penalty nicely. Great start to the half.
La Rochelle 10 Munster 10
40 mins: Nearly a brilliant interception by Beirne but he couldn’t keep a hold of it. Beirne then nearly stole it again from La Rochelle, but O’Mahony had conceded a penalty. West kicks for touch rather than the posts.
Good lineout by La Rochelle, then Jegou comes crashing at the defence at speed. They reach five metres, several advantages, West tries to find the wing but back for the advantage for offside. Munster barely hanging on, but look like they’ll concede here.
Penalty scored by La Rochelle. West kicks over in front of the posts.
Half-time: La Rochelle 10 Munster 7
Intense half of rugby, Munster were up against it until West’s yellow card, then they had a great 10-minute spell before La Rochelle eventually edged back control. Still all to play for.
38 mins: Atonio shows his power to win a scrum penalty, but Skelton knocks it on and a scrum for Munster. Slower few minutes before half-time.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 7
32 mins: Nash found another gap and looked threatening but Alldritt rescues it for La Rochelle. From that attack, Nash ended up with a blood injury for his troubles. The French side are really struggling since the yellow card. La Rochelle have escaped the worst of it though with good defence, Skelton turning the ball over, with West ready to come back on.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 7
30 mins: Munster pushing forward with the extra man, good sidestep by O’Brien gets Munster to five metres, O’Mahony carries near the line. Casey recycles but Kleyn knocks it on after strong defending by La Rochelle’s Lavault. Opportunity missed.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 7
28 mins: Momentum with Munster! They turn the ball over on Leyds then Crowley kicks a superb kick to the five-metre line from the penalty. Munster crowd are alive. Unfortunately the ball is knocked forward from the lineout by Munster.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 7
25 mins: TRY FOR MUNSTER! A moment of magic from Thaakir Abrahams! He finds a gap in the defence and accelerates into space through everyone, lays it off to Craig Casey who does well himself to finish. Crowley converts. Electric rugby from Munster!
La Rochelle 7 Munster 7
TMO check for a high tackle by West on O’Brien. Yellow card for La Rochelle! West gets a yellow card as the two clash heads, poor tackling technique.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 0
22 mins: La Rochelle go again but they knock it on as Smith comes back on, Beirne back up too. Up to 15 again.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 0
19 mins: Again Munster knock the ball ahead with some sloppy play, not playing too badly overall but just letting themselves down with mistakes.
La Rochelle look to punish. They accelerate to the other 22 in 10-15 seconds with rapid passing, Thomas heavily involved, then makes several metres towards the 5-metre line but Munster turn it over and escape. Beirne is down injured too.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 0
15 mins: Several phases for Munster outside the 22 as they build up possession. Then O’Brien overhits the pass to Nash out of play.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 0
12 mins: Try for La Rochelle! It was coming, The captain Alldritt with a big impact and Levani Botia is the one who gets it down, Seuteni offloads to him. Easy conversion for Ihaia West.
La Rochelle 7 Munster 0
10 mins: Munster knock the ball on and from the scrum, La Rochelle fly up the pitch and Munster give away a penalty. Yellow card for Andrew Smith! Munster down to 14 and under pressure.
La Rochelle 0 Munster 0
7 mins: Great little quick kick from Casey into a great position. Safe lineout though by La Rochelle and out of play.
La Rochelle 0 Munster 0
5 mins: Misplaced kick by Crowley after the defensive lineout, out of play. La Rochelle power forward to the 22, but Hodnett gets a great turnover for Munster, Crowley clears out of play.
La Rochelle 0 Munster 0
Looked like a try for La Rochelle! After 47 seconds, Kerr-Barlow scores! Sumptuous rugby by La Rochelle, Atonio with a good lay-off, ends up with Thomas on the wing who accelerates and then passes to Kerr-Barlow who touches down.
But it’s being checked for a foot in touch...
TMO is having a close look, looks like the foot is in touch. No try given! Munster get away with it.
Amazing atmosphere at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, both sets of fans giving it socks. Off we go!
Here are the teams again:
La Rochelle: Dillyn Leyds; Jack Nowell, Teddy Thomas, Ulupano Seuteni, Hoani Bosmorin; Ihaia West, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Pierre Bourgarit, Uini Atonio; Thomas Lavault, Will Skelton,; Levani Botia, Oscar Jegou, Gregory Alldritt (capt). Replacements: Quentin Lespiaucq, Alexandre Kaddouri, Aleksandre Kuntelia, Ultan Dillane, Judicael Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Antoine Hastoy, Jules Favre.
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
Leinster have won 62-0 over Harlequins at Croke Park, impressive stuff. Read the reaction from John O’Sullivan:
Here is the Munster preview from Gerry Thornley:
“Munster have a real chance, not least because of their DNA in this competition and by hook or by crook the Red Army will probably astonish us once more by the thousands inside a warm sunny day in the Deflandre. But the absence of Nankivell’s physicality, and the memory of La Rochelle’s performance against Leinster demonstrates why they have to be favourites.”
[ La Rochelle v Munster: Ronan O’Gara’s side lie in wait at Stade Marcel DeflandreOpens in new window ]
In the earlier match, Leinster are demolishing Harlequins at Croke Park, they’re 31-0 up nearly midway through the second half. Follow the updates with John O’Sullivan there:
[ Leinster v Harlequins live score updatesOpens in new window ]
A deep look at La Rochelle, using stats by Nathan Johns. He writes that Munster can take hope from the fact that Ronan O’Gara’s men have struggled to hit the heights this season both in defence and attack.
“In all their years of success since O’Gara joined in 2019, statistically speaking, this is the best time to play La Rochelle. The prospect of busting the numbers, leaning on experience in a bid to rescue their season, makes Saturday’s contest all the more intriguing.”
[ Rugby analysis: The stats say La Rochelle are no longer the sum of their partsOpens in new window ]
A nice day out for the Munster fans, a sunny 19 degrees in La Rochelle. Pretty sunny in Ireland though too, to be fair.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Munster’s clash against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last 16. Two teams of great European pedigree, with Ronan O’Gara playing a big role in some of Munster’s greatest days and managing some of La Rochelle’s greatest ones. It’s an enticing contest. Munster have not been pitch perfect all season themselves, but they will be encouraged by La Rochelle’s indifferent form in the Top 14 and Champions Cup so far. One look though at the La Rochelle starting XV and Ian Costello’s men will know they’re in for a tough game. Kick-off at the Stade Marcel Deflandre is at 5.30pm.
Here are the teams:
La Rochelle: Dillyn Leyds; Jack Nowell, Teddy Thomas, Ulupano Seuteni, Hoani Bosmorin; Ihaia West, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Pierre Bourgarit, Uini Atonio; Thomas Lavault, Will Skelton,; Levani Botia, Oscar Jegou, Gregory Alldritt (capt). Replacements: Quentin Lespiaucq, Alexandre Kaddouri, Aleksandre Kuntelia, Ultan Dillane, Judicael Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Antoine Hastoy, Jules Favre.
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
