Friday December 11 2009,
Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick.
Munster v Perpignan in the third round of the Heineken Cup.
Munsters season to date has been sadly lacking consistancy,
One of the worrying aspects of Munsters season to date is the well documented fall from grace of our "Go To" man, Ronan O'Gara.
Having recently lost his place in the Irish team,and he had a fairly indifferent outing in Munsters most recent defeat to Welsh side,Ospreys.
Perpignan came with a huge reputation. They are the current French Champions, and going well in the French Super 14.
Tony McGahan dropped a bombshell ,by dropping Munsters Marquee signing ,John De Villiers.
So how would it all play out....
If anyone doubted Ronan O'Gara, they won't doubt him again.
From midfield he controlled the match with pinpoint kicking from hand tp keep the French side pinned back in there own half for long periods of the game.His place kicking was excellent, getting all of Munsters 24 pts, including a gem of a drop goal of his "weaker" foot.
Even though Munster controlled the match for long periods, they gifted Perpignan 2 extremely soft tries.
The sides went in at half time level 12 pts each.
Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick.
Munster v Perpignan in the third round of the Heineken Cup.
Munsters season to date has been sadly lacking consistancy,
One of the worrying aspects of Munsters season to date is the well documented fall from grace of our "Go To" man, Ronan O'Gara.
Having recently lost his place in the Irish team,and he had a fairly indifferent outing in Munsters most recent defeat to Welsh side,Ospreys.
Perpignan came with a huge reputation. They are the current French Champions, and going well in the French Super 14.
Tony McGahan dropped a bombshell ,by dropping Munsters Marquee signing ,John De Villiers.
So how would it all play out....
If anyone doubted Ronan O'Gara, they won't doubt him again.
From midfield he controlled the match with pinpoint kicking from hand tp keep the French side pinned back in there own half for long periods of the game.His place kicking was excellent, getting all of Munsters 24 pts, including a gem of a drop goal of his "weaker" foot.
Even though Munster controlled the match for long periods, they gifted Perpignan 2 extremely soft tries.
The sides went in at half time level 12 pts each.
Dougie Howlett makes one of his trademark tackles
On the resumption the French came more into the match,but that man O'Gara kept on pulling the strings and stretched Munsters lead to 6 pts.
Perpignan scored a penalty of their own and then came the score of the night, when Paul Warwick kicked from his own 22. The ball was collected on the Perpignan 22 by Burger, and the former Cheetahs man scorched the lenght of the Thomond Park pitch, evading both Earls and Warwick before touching down in the corner in front of the Munster Faithful.His celebration was greeted with a shocked silence.Suddenly Munster were 2 pts down with time running out!
Donnacha O'Callaghan goes highest at the lineout
Well Munster don't do panic.They managed to achieve some good field position and as they launched attack after attack the french flanker Guiry stuck out and arm and got pinged for a high tackle om Mafi.
Up stepped O'Gara and another easy 3 pts.
Paul O'Connell retrieves the ball from the restart
From the restart ,Munster managed to retain posession and run down the clock.
Role on next week for the return fixture in France.
Philip Burger collects the ball and out sprints Paul Warwick and Keith Earls
Burger leaves Paul Warick in his wake
Burger goes over for his try
Burgers "celebrations" won't make him very popular with the Munster Fans
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