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LAST UPDATE | 13 Jan 2024
MUNSTER FANS HAVE witnessed many special away days in Europe and now they’ve another one to add to the collection.
Those in red jerseys enjoying the January sunshine around Toulon’s bustling pier and busy streets this morning weren’t feeling optimistic about their chances in France today but Graham Rowntree’s side took their opportunites when they came at the Stade Felix Mayol to record a superb bonus-point win – Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo, Tom Ahern and Calvin Nash supplying the tries in a 29-18 win.
After a home draw with Bayonne and late collapse at Exeter, this result has saved Munster’s Champions Cup season heading into next week’s home meeting with Northampton Saints.
Connacht’s faint Champion Cup hopes disappeared in Lyon as they fell to their third loss of the campaign, defeated 34-20 after another frustrating display.
They recovered well from a poor opening half and had a window in the third quarter to take control of this encounter, but they failed to push on and left France empty-handed.
It effectively means that next Friday’s much heralded return by Pat Lam and his Bristol Bears to the Sportsground is really a dead rubber as far as this competition is concerned.
Seán Jansen, Cian Prendergast and Tadhg McElroy bagged tries but Connacht have now just netted a single point from their opening three games.
Leinster delivered much to to warm the cockles on a cold, crisp night in Dublin in a resounding 43-7 win against Stade Francais.
This bonus-point win secures Leinster’s place in the round of 16 but they’ll be gunning for another victory in Leicester next weekend to make it four wins from four in Pool 4 and strengthen their position for home advantage throughout the knock-out stages.
Among the only other real blots was an injury for starting out-half Ciarán Frawley early in the second half. The 26-year-old walked off the field in clear discomfort and the timing is bad with Ireland’s Six Nations squad to be named on Wednesday.
Ulster felt the full force of Toulouse’s galaxy of stars in Belfast, falling to a heavy 48-24 defeat.
The crowd came to see Antione Dupont and he did not disappoint, going over for two tries, while hooker Peato Mauvaka also accounted for a brace. Ulster fell one try short of a bonus point.
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Go well Munster!
@John Doe: that worked eh!!
@John Doe: John Spartan?
@Thomas Meaney: it sure did.
@Thomas Meaney: it sure did. No point in doing anything the easy way
@John Doe: well Munster are hardly known for going hey there’s a nice easy way to qualify and progress. I swear they have a meeting pre season and decide the most difficult and exciting way to go through a competition in turn dragging their followers through the mill on the journey. Every year the same!!
@Thomas Meaney: and we wouldn’t have it any other way
@John Doe: ahhhhh jaysus maybe someday they’ll say no joking around this season. Let the fans actually enjoy the team and not go around fretting and stressing they have no hope then ride in and beat a stronger team away in their own back yard.
Great game, with all the negativity being spewed on here, that’s the perfect ‘shhhhh’ to the haters… for now. Some craic down in Toulon tonight! Few players putting their hands up for 6n selection.
@Thesaltyurchin: true words!!
@Thesaltyurchin: Leinster fan
Really delighted for Munster.
Brilliant game for Zebo, so glad to see him back. He is a great advertisement for the game!
@Tyrone Williams: Fair play, I mean that. Zebo is a breath of fresh air. I love seeing players play with a smile on their face
@John Doe: James Lowe and Simon Zebo
Zebo Zebo Zebo!!
@Rochelle Hart: Z’s dead baby, Z’s dead.
A big yawn.
@TC Murphy: Aw diddums …
@TC Murphy: I’d say you’re bored senseless since the darts finished
As a spectacle rugby is pretty boring at the moment. It’s rare to get a great game with plenty tries. Surely with all the brain power the powers that be could make it better. Have they ever trialled less players on the pitch or waist high tackling only?
@Science: fewer players on the pitch, it’s called rugby league (13 players per team, but it’s not so popular in Ireland). Sevens is also in that category.
Waist-high tackles, WR is thinking about something similar. But how that will be implemented at professional level, if at all, that’s another story
@Jerry LeFrog: 13 players on the pitch would improve things hugely, but keep lineouts, rucks, mauls and competitive scrums, all of which are missing from Rugby League
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: And reduce the subs to 3. Allowing 7 subs is killing the game and unfair to smaller/weaker clubs or nations.
@Science: If you don’t like it. Dont watch. We don’t need you fair-weather fans.
@Thesaltyurchin: If you go to your local club to watchba fixture such as Mallow V Bandon how many will be there? Unfortunately the vast majority in the Aviva tonight are genuine ‘fair – weather’ fans.
@Thesaltyurchin: well I won’t watch but i would if it was more of a spectacle in general. More often than not it isn”t for both proper fans and us fair weather ones. I’m not anti rugby whatsoever think many of facets of the game are fantastic just think there should be a focus on making it better for the fans with more flair/beating players on display etc.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: You could say the same for any club GAA game then the supporters role out at Croke Park for the all Ireland series. Thats how sport works.
@Science: I find it amusing you commented this on a HC weekend that has seen 71 tries in 9 games so far, and some absolute cracking matches
@Science: God bless you narrow mindedness. In every invasion game there is a concept known as defense. Sometimes defence is better than the attack.
In darts there is no defence, maybe this is the game for you.
@Cpchurch87: yeah most weekends so far have been dull affairs. It’s not often that happens. Clearly touched a nerve, what is it the say about the truth
@Science: This is the problem in the age of information. People take a glancing interest and assume the role of restructuring it to suit their own tatse/agenda. It’s a problem all over our current society, look at Simon Harris, never been to college but is somehow running 3rd level education! baffling. Perhaps we should ask a tennis player to try and improve premiership football?… Wonder how well that would go down.
@Sean Ahearne: god bless your narrowmindedness that you can’t entertain the option that the game could be improved! Darts is actually a great example of a game/sport that was boring and they changed things up to make it more of a spectacle.
@Science: Lol… Science and the Truth. Nice book title in fairness
@Science: yes , girly dancers are a huge improvement.
@Science: no nerve touched here. I’m just struggling to see your point about low scoring and boring games. Are you watching all the games, or just a handful? Premiership, Top 14 and URC have had some crackers. Yeah, Leinster Munster was a game for the purists, but I think it’s been a great start to each competition and league. If the pros are boring you, head down to your local club or AIL. Some excellent rugby on show there too
@Science: stick to soccer lad rugby clearly isn’t for you
@Thesaltyurchin: it’s a comments section. For opinions .. and seems relatively valid given some replies. Outside opinions can offer insights. Basketball In America focused on making the game more of a spectacle and it has been good for the game over there. I am not a basketball fan before some juvenile says stick to the basketball or stick to the soccer or stick to the bog ball. Anyway I’ve made my point and thanks to those who engaged like adults
@Science: You’re welcome.
Yo! Joe Vlogs !
Yawn
4th choice sport
@WFVedF99: hey Gary, you forgot to add the “er” to your surname
@WFVedF99: International Sport where you can represent your country like all sports except of course GAA sports which really isn’t popular anywhere except only in Ireland.
@WFVedF99: 6n has the largest sporting Audience.
@WFVedF99: 4th choice where children and refs are safe unlike other sports. Parents bo not attack refs and players.
@Joe Kelly: do
Always one who bites
@WFVedF99: ah bite me bollocks
2-0
@WFVedF99: haven’t you crayons to be eating?
@WFVedF99: dope
Niche one would say
have your say