Munster in France: Breaking a losing habit

November 8th, 1995Castres 19, Munster 12 Level going into the last minute, Munster had an overlap on their own line, though, as Anthony Foley concedes, "we wouldn't have been the most expansive side in the world - Kenny Smith was our kicker on the wing".

In any event, Munster turned over the ball, and Castres scored in the opposite corner, adding the conversion.

That score, ultimately, cost Munster a place in the semi-finals.

November 2nd, 1996

Toulouse 60, Munster 19

Munster had stuffed Wasps 49-22, Wasps had stuffed Toulouse 77-17, so, naturally, Toulouse then stuffed Wasps.

A win would have put Munster through, but as they huddled after another French try early in the second-half, Pat Murray implored his team-mates to "keep it under 50". Against a rampant Toulouse, they couldn't manage that.

October 4th, 1997

Bourgoin 21, Munster 6

By the time of this penultimate pool game, Munster were virtually out of contention. "A nothing game," recalls Foley. "That was the day they came with the stretcher for Claw with their wellingtons on, and Gaillimh warned him that he was really in trouble now."

October 10th, 1998

Perpignan 41, Munster 24

The Perpignan pack scrummed and mauled Munster off the park, and targeted Barry Everitt in defence. John Hayes was taken off early, and Donncha O'Callaghan lasted 25 minutes when sprung from the bench. It was also Peter Stringer's debut. Today offers a chance for redemption for a lot of players.

December 13th, 1998

Colomiers 23, Munster 9

Seven points down from the first play, Munster paid for a standoffish start to the quarter-final before gradually losing their way in a poorly refereed and bad-tempered affair. "A lot of ill-discipline from us," admits Foley. "We learned a lot from that."

December 11th, 1999

Colomiers 15, Munster 31

Growing in belief and pulling clear from a 14-12 lead at the break, Munster ran in four tries - two from 60-metres plus. Jason Holland, a late replacement for Killian Keane, scored two and there was one each for an inspired Marcus Horan and Keith Wood, with John Langford pinching six Marc Dalmaso throws.

"We're going to be a dangerous side if we ever play for 80 minutes," ventured Declan Kidney.

May 6th, 2000

Toulouse 25, Munster 31

After awesome defending in this semi-final, epitomised by David Wallace's herculean workload while Mike Mullins was sinbinned, the game turned on THAT try, 91 seconds of multi-phase continuity from a scrum just outside their 22, the ball travelling through 22 pairs of hands before Ronan O'Gara somersaulted between the posts.

October 14th, 2000

Castres 29, Munster 32

Another sluggish start. Munster were lucky to be only 20-6 down at one point, but O'Gara's boot nibbled at the lead and the game turned on a late double whammy of tries from Anthony Horgan and O'Gara.

April 21st, 2001

Stade Français 16, Munster 15

Lousy venue (Lille), lousy weather, lousy pitch. Munster suffered a long bout of inactivity in the semi-final and the absence of David Wallace, but even so hung in there and were robbed of a legitimate John O'Neill try by Steve Lander's wrong call despite the touchjudge being excellently positioned. The Gods were agin 'em.

January 12th, 2002

Castres 21, Munster 13

Another below-par, rusty performance, but again Munster's stickability saw them hang in there. When O'Gara sent David Wallace over for a late try, unbeknown to themselves they'd done enough at 16-13 down to earn a home quarter-final, but miscalculated in running the restart ball and conceded a try off a turnover.

The bad blood generated by the bite mark on Peter Clohessy's arm wasn't assuaged by the unsuccessful citing of Ismael Lassissi.

Jan 26th, 2002

Stade Francais 14, Munster 16

Again, Munster didn't flow like honey in this quarter-final, but Anthony Horgan's try, when breaking through in midfield off O'Gara's skip pass, and the outhalf's kicking gave them a paltry lead which, with the help of another O'Gara penalty, Munster defended into a near gale-force wind.

April 27th, 2002

Castres 17, Munster 25

The outcry and Munster misgivings about the Beziers venue for the semi-final proved largely unfounded, Munster avenging their bitter pool defeat over the same opponents with a disciplined and controlled performance. Munster were steered home by Ronan O'Gara's six penalties from six until the sides traded academic injury-time tries.