Northampton 24 Munster 14: Champions Cup last 16 as it happened

Gerry Thornley’s match report is here. That’s all from me, goodbye!

[ Munster run out of gas as Northampton keep foot down to make quarter-finals ]

A new star for Northampton:

80 mins: Northampton win a scrum penalty and will see out the game. That’s that for Munster’s European hopes this season.

FULL-TIME: Northampton 24 Munster 14

So a superb first half performance by Munster but they couldn’t sustain it at all. Failed to score in the second half and rarely looked like scoring in a disjointed end to the game. Credit to Northampton though, who are a top outfit and will challenge for the trophy at the end of the season. Disappointment for Munster, who will now have to focus on a strong end to their URC campaign.

76 mins: Alright then finally some life from Munster in this half. They win a penalty, kick for touch, five metres out. But the ball is turned over again, Beirne tackled and knocked on.

Northampton 24 Munster 14

73 mins: Try for Northampton! So after that let off, things don’t get any better for Munster. Northampton’s George Hendy gets his second. Mitchell with the initial running. Hendy without much on the sideline, evades two tackles brilliantly from Crowley and Zebo and runs it over. A brilliant finish, but Crowley’s tackle was a bit weak.

Northampton 24 Munster 14

70 mins: Penalty missed for Northampton. Northampton getting luck in the breakdown, Courtney Lawes showing his class. Later then Frisch’s offload is thrown out of play as Munster struggle to get into the opposition 22. Munster then concede a penalty, Smith goes for the posts and mishits completely. A big surprise and an awful strike, pulled low and wide.

Northampton 19 Munster 14

67 mins: Northampton the better team this half you’d have to say. McCarthy on for O’Brien, Joey Carbery is on for Nankivell, Crowley going to 12 to try to change things up. O’Donoghue on for Coombes.

Northampton 19 Munster 14

62 mins: The first half seemed to take a lot out of both sets of players. Lots of errors this half. Both Odendall and Zebo struggling with injury, Odendall off, Zebo staying on for now.

Then all of a sudden, try for Northampton! Two great passes opened the game for the Saints. Smith and Sleightholme with the great passes. Replacement George Hendy finishes off. A play from well their own 22. Fin Smith misses conversion from the sideline.

Northampton 19 Munster 14

Big changes for Munster. O’Mahony and Casey off, Murray and Kendellen on.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

55 mins: In case you were wondering, Ulster losing 17-12 to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup. Back at Franklin’s Gardens, it’s an attritional start to this half, with forwards and turnovers winning out.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

52 mins: Less space in this half and a great tackle by Odendaal leads to a Munster error and kills their attack. England’s Alex Mitchell is on at scrumhalf for Northampton now.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

50 mins: Another great turnover by Beirne, getting his big hands on the turnover and eases the pressure on Munster. Beirne having a great half so far and wins the lineout, then a Munster scrum finally in Northampton’s half.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

47 mins: Scrum penalty for Northampton, which they go for touch, 5-metre lineout. But great competition for Munster, they scramble the ball and avert the danger.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

43 mins: Bit of a slower start to this half. Northampton with a lot of early possession this half. Sleightholme showed his pace to make some ground and now a Saints scrum.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

40 mins: Munster’s Ahern goes for a kick and chase, Langdon reads and then runs halfway up the pitch himself. Then Munster turn it over. End to end stuff. They win a penalty, Crowley kicks for touch as it hits 40 metres. From the lineout, it’s knocked on and that’s half-time.

Half-time: Northampton 14 Munster 14

A brilliant half of rugby there, Munster played very well at times and might be disappointed not to be leading. Northampton played their part too though. Two tries a piece and plenty of great attacking rugby. More of the same in the second half, please.

37 mins: Try for Northampton! Scrum penalty for Northampton. Munster nearly steal the lineout but it’s knocked on. Scannell down injured. From the scrum, Northampton score. Good scrum, big carry off it, Lawes to Smith to Freeman who is too fast for the Munster defence. Smith converts, back level.

Northampton 14 Munster 14

33 mins: Zebo rolling back the years with some great carries and he makes more ground. Munster with another well-constructed attack before Archer drops the ball sadly.

Northampton 7 Munster 14

28 mins: Try for Munster! Scrum penalty for Munster. From it, Munster play quick, aggressive rugby, O’Brien with a few nice involvements. Another penalty, Munster go for a maul. Casey dummies well and gets to five metres. Beirne pushes close to the line, then Hodnett. Again and again, and then Haley picks it up, spots a gap and powers it over. Crowley converts.

Northampton 7 Munster 14

24 mins: Missed chance for Munster. Zebo did great over a long ball and pass to Frisch but he couldn’t hold the ball when he could have been through. Northampton then counter and Lawes is almost through. Mile a minute rugby so far.

Northampton 7 Munster 7

20 mins: Poor throw by Scannell in a defensive lineout is penalised and it’s Northampton’s ball. Good lineout. Great turnover though from Munster only five metres from the line, Gavin Coombes brilliant.

Northampton 7 Munster 7

17 mins: Try for Munster! O’Brien with the try, well deserved under the post. Munster take advantage of that territory, stay patient and Casey gives to Nankivell who gives a nice short pass to O’Brien who scores. Crowley scores the conversion.

Northampton 7 Munster 7

14 mins: Munster not deterred by going behind after their great start win a penalty and kick to touch. It was a great lineout and Munster were almost there but Northampton turn it over again. Not capitalising on their play so far, but Munster are putting serious pressure on the English side.

Northampton 7 Munster 0

Try for Northampton! Maul by Northampton to within the five metres line. They go wide and move the ball quickly. Great tackle by Haley as Munster hold on for a while. But Northampton reset, Odendaal breaks through and offloads to Ramm who finishes well. Smith converts.

Northampton 7 Munster 0

8 mins: Unfortunately after almost seven minutes of attacking possession, Haley drops the ball and Northampton finally get the ball over halfway, their kick with an almighty bounce almost over the endline. Crowley kicks to touch and Northampton have good territory.

Northampton 0 Munster 0

6 mins: Saints hold up well from the maul after the lineout. Munster go wide, but don’t make much ground afgainst a strong defence. Hodnett back within five metres, Phase 11 and they’re within a metre of the line. Beirne goes for the line, but Northampton hold it up, great defence.

Northampton 0 Munster 0

3 mins: Good start by Munster, they show their power to overturn the ball in the middle and attack within 10 metres. Casey fizzing the ball with many phases. Munster win a penalty after a high tackle near the wing. Casey kicks for touch, 5 metre lineout.

Northampton 0 Munster 0

As the teams come out on the pitch, here they are again:

Northampton Saints: J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall, B Odendaal, O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; A Moon, A Coles; C Lawes, L Ludlam (capt), S Graham.

Replacements: S Matavesi, A Waller, P Hill, T Mayanavanua, A Scott-Young, J Augustus, A Mitchell, G Hendy.

Munster: Mike Haley; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Mark Donnelly, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Shay McCarthy.

It is a big game for Craig Casey today, as Gordon D’Arcy writes:

“Sunday’s game in Franklin’s Gardens is also a huge opportunity for Crowley’s halfback partner, Craig Casey to put in a performance that removes any doubt that he should be the next cab off the rank behind Gibson-Park at Ireland level.

The fact he hasn’t pushed past Conor Murray over the last couple of seasons has left him in the ‘lots of potential category’ with not enough consistent game time to nail down the nine jersey for the big matches.

There is no doubting his energy and speed to the breakdown, the next challenge is to showcase his decision-making and passing range to best effect. The balance looks to have shifted in his favour now. The stage is set for Munster’s halfback pairing to produce a statement performance on the road this weekend.”

[ Gordon D’Arcy: Craig Casey has an opportunity to prove he should be the next cab off the rank for Ireland ]

In his match preview, Gerry Thornley writes “By any logical yardstick, Northampton are entitled to start favourites and should progress to next weekend’s quarter-finals, and a home tie against the Bulls. Their form has been more consistent, they deservedly came from behind to win with 14 men for over half of the match at Thomond Park last January and, at face value, not a whole lot has changed in the interim.”

But he points out:

“As that extraordinary, pandemic afflicted game against Wasps in December 2021 demonstrated, one can never underestimate how Munster can be inspired by this competition.”

[ Northampton favourites to progress but Munster capable of derailing opponents ]

The last time these two teams played was in January, and it was a rollercoaster game that Munster really should have won. They let the game slip away despite leading 20-10 at one stage with Northampton down to 14 after red card. Gerry Thornley wrote in his match report that they could hardly have any complaints after a very patchy performance at Thomond Park.

“Munster’s set pieces increasingly struggled and while they played well in spurts, errors undermined any ability to maintain cohesion and coherence.”

That will have to improve today if they’re to beat Northampton away from home.

[ Munster let the Saints come marching in and send them on the road in Last 16 ]

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Munster’s game away to Northampton Saints from Franklin’s Gardens in the last 16 of the Champions Cup. Northampton are top of the English Premiership and beat Munster in their last game in the competition, despite being down to 14 men and away from home. They have won 10 of their 14 games domestically, so it will be a tough task for Munster.

Munster were already hit by the blow that RG Snyman will miss the game through illness. Shane Daly also out. It will be a big game then for Ireland’s outhalf Jack Crowley, going against the skilled number 10 Fin Smith on the other side. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.

Northampton Saints: J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall, B Odendaal, O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; A Moon, A Coles; C Lawes, L Ludlam (capt), S Graham.

Replacements: S Matavesi, A Waller, P Hill, T Mayanavanua, A Scott-Young, J Augustus, A Mitchell, G Hendy.

Munster: Mike Haley; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Mark Donnelly, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Shay McCarthy.