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Munster's Champions Cup hopes all but over after defeat to Racing 92

Niall Scannell /Getty

Munster’s Heineken Champions Cup hopes are all but over after they were beaten 39-22 by Racing 92 in Paris despite an impressive performance which looked at one stage like it would be rewarded with victory.

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The Irish side’s forwards impressed throughout against a giant French side. JJ Hanrahan kicked 17 points with Andrew Conway scoring the only Munster try.

But it still was not enough for a win as Racing secured their place in the quarter-finals thanks to a brace from Teddy Thomas, a Virimi Vakatawa effort, and Juan Imhoff’s late strike.

Teddy Iribaren added five penalties, but it took until the final 10 minutes for Racing to seal victory and break the back of Munster’s hugely committed display.

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Former Munster ace and Racing lock Donnacha Ryan was a late withdrawal from the French side’s bench due to illness and Hanrahan – passed fit despite a hamstring scare – opened the scoring.

Munster’s strong start continued as their forwards stood up to be counted. They won a second penalty after Racing were penalised for wheeling a scrum and Hanrahan made it 6-0.

The carrying and physicality of the men in red – summed up by prop Dave Kilcoyne – was very impressive and Hanrahan then slotted a third penalty.

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Iribaren got Racing on the board with his first kick after the scrum-half was needlessly blocked off the ball by Jean Kleyn. It gave the hosts confidence as Vakatawa collected a Finn Russell chip.

Thomas grabbed Racing’s first try in the 29th minute as the home side’s momentum grew. The wing scored in the corner, but Munster felt the ball went forward in the build-up.

Iribaren could not convert but did kick a long-range penalty although it still was not enough for his team to go to the break ahead. As Racing launched another attack in the Munster 22, another home try looked certain.

Conway had other ideas as he intercepted a home pass and raced virtually the length of the field to score. Hanrahan converted for a 16-11 half-time lead.

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Iribaren and Hanrahan exchanged penalties at the start of the second period in a kicking tit for tat which then saw Iribaren strike again in the 54th minute after Conor Murray was penalised.

Iribaren’s impressive kicking display continued with yet another strike and it gave Racing the narrowest of leads at the hour mark following a clean Russell break.

The outstanding Vakatawa did brilliantly to hold Chris Farrell up over the try line as Munster pushed hard, but they had to make do with three rather than seven points.

In the 72nd minute Thomas broke Munster hearts as he collected Russell’s cross-kick in the corner.

Thomas did brilliantly to score and get downward pressure just inches from the dead-ball line and the try was confirmed by the TMO after referee Wayne Barnes sent the decision upstairs.

Maxime Machenaud could not convert, but there was still time for Vakatawa to score Racing’s third try with a deadly finish from a Russell pass.

This time Machenaud converted and he also added the extras to Imhoff’s late fourth try which clinched a Racing bonus-point win and cruelly left Munster with nothing to show for their efforts.

– Press Association

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fl 23 minutes ago
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“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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J
JW 4 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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