IT MIGHT NOT be a must-win for Munster today, but if they leave Clermont with nothing it might be fatal to their chances of qualifying for the quarter-final of the Champions Cup.
Can Munster produce another famous away performance in Europe?
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Hello and welcome to TheScore.ie’s liveblog of Clermont vs Munster. In case you missed it during the week, here are the two teams.
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Damien Chouly (c), 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 22 Brock James, 23 Benson Stanley
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O’Donnell, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Dave Foley, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 John Ryan
Replacements: 16 Kevin O’Byrne, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Denis Hurley, 23 Johne Murphy
Our man Murray Kinsella is over in Clermont today and he has been soaking up the atmosphere in the main square.
He also looked through the French papers to see what their media think of the game.
Do Munster have a chance today?
Clermont’s home record in Europe is very strong and they are 10 point favourites today.
Clermont are 1/5 to win, Munster are 10/3 and the draw is 22/1.
The atmosphere looks brilliant in Clermont!
I think every rugby fan should go to at least one game in Clermont.
Clermont were comprehensive winners at Thomond Park last week and their defence had answers to everything that the Munster attack threw at them. The selection of JJ Hanrahan at inside centre should give Munster a greater threat going forward in France today.
5 minutes to kick-off now, it’s time for predictions. Can Munster spring a shock or is a losing bonus point the best they can hope for?
Shaun Edwards pre-match advice for the visitors – ‘Be Munster’.
Hopefully Anthony Foley does a little more than that.
This isn’t a bad shout actually!
We are off at the Stade Marcel Michelin!
Early possession by Clermont and they are keeping it in the forwards on the Munster 10m line.
Tommy O’Donnell gets a great steal but JJ Hanrahan’s cross-kick goes straight into the hands of Guildford.
Munster win a penalty after O’Donnell forces another turnover, this time on Rougerie. Great start by the flanker. Keatley is going for the posts from just inside his own half to the right of the posts.
Clermont 0-3 Munster
What a kick from Keatley! He nails the monster penalty with a bit to spare. Great start from the visitors.
Munster gift possession to Clermont after O’Mahony knocks on but the flanker makes up for it by stealing the ball. Unfortunately Murray kicks out on the full and Clermont have a lineout outside the Munster 22.
Munster steal a lineout and clear their lines. The travelling pack have already done more in the first seven minutes today than they did all of last weekend.
This time it is Parra who kicks out on the full and Munster have a lineout on the Clermont 10m line.
Hanrahan makes a lovely little break before feeding Andrew Smith who takes the ball into the Clermont 22. They shift it wide and Rougerie knocks on while tackling Keatley. Munster have a 5m scrum. It was a try if Rougerie didn’t make that tackle.
It has been all Munster so far. The pack are providing lightning quick ruck ball for Murray. Great chance for Munster to add to their lead here. Also a big moment for John Ryan at loosehead.
Munster win a penalty at the scrum after a great shove. Hanrahan almost drove over but Clermont were able to keep him out. Keatley should extend the lead from straight in front.
Clermont 0-6 Munster
Keatley knocks over the easy penalty and Munster have a nice early lead and are well worth it.
Munster have a scrum on the touchline after Rougerie throws a forward pass to Abendanon. Felix Jones levelled Clermont wing Nakaitaci in the process too.
Keatley executes a nice wraparound and sprints through a gap in the Clermont defence. The out-half tries to link with a support runner but a Clermont hand gets in the way. Scrum Munster just outside the 22.
Clermont win a free kick for a crooked feed.
For the second time Hanrahan kicks poorly as his grubber is blocked down by Rougerie but O’Donnell tidies up on the halfway line.
Lopez makes a scintillating break through the centre of the Munster defence before getting tackled outside the 22. The ball is moved to the left wing and Clermont looked certain to score before hooker Kayser threw the ball into the hands of Andrew Conway.
After going close a minute ago, it looks like Clermont got their score this time. Wesley Fofana takes a short pass from Rougerie and feeds Domingo who carries close to the line. A few phases later Zac Guildford powers over from a yard out but Nigel Owens has gone to the TMO.
Clermont 5-6 Munster
The try is given after was an excellent, sweeping move from the home side. Lopez drags his conversion wide.
Stuart Barnes is criticising Conor Murray for missing touch with his clearance kick after Clermont’s initial attack before the try. It was a costly error for the scrum-half.
Nakaitaci puts pressure on Munster with a nice kick that takes play up to the visitors 22.
Very unlucky by Conor Murray there. The ball was ripped from Abendanon in midfield and Murray kicks into space but the ball rolls a yard or two over the tryline and Clermont get a 22 drop-out.
Very good play from Munster at the moment. Their forwards are making ground regularly and after Keatley throws a miss pass to Jones on the wing, the fullback kicks well into Clermont territory. Munster have a lineout outside the 22 now.
Copeland is on for Stander after the South African ships a massive hit. Could be a concussion.
Hanrahan has already justified his selection with some effective breaks and half-breaks.
Clermont finally win a turnover penalty of their own and after their maul is collapsed in the Munster 22, Clermont have a kickable penalty to take the lead.
Clermont 8-6 Munster
Lopez makes up for his earlier miss by putting the home side in front for the first time.
Munster snaffle the ball from the kick-off and Tommy O’Donnell takes the ball deep into the Clermont 22. Munster have a chance to retake the lead now.
Clermont win another penalty at the breakdown to relieve the pressure. A missed opportunity for Munster.
Clermont exploited a mismatch in the build up to their try.
Miles Harrison: Julian Bonnaire is a very experienced water carrier.
Stuart Barnes: Is he? I thought he would have been playing most of the time.
Just sell the damn joke Stuart!
Good double tackle from Conway and Duncan Casey drives Kayser into touch. Munster have a lineout on their own 10m line.
Clermont have possession now but they are deep in their own half.
Munster turn it over and Keatley tries to find Conway with a cross-kick but Abendanon gets there first and grounds it for a 22 drop-out.
Zebo flies out of the line to smash Rougerie, which is just as well because the centre had two men outside him. Munster turn the ball over on the next phase and are trying to launch another attack from the halfway line.
After some initial dominance early on, Clermont are beginning to get on top at the scrum. They win a penalty and Parra will kick for the posts from the halfway line.
Brutal attempt by Parra. The ball bounces twice before reaching Conway, who clears.
TRY! Clermont 15-6 Munster
Clermont take a lineout quickly and work the ball to Nakaitaci who swerves and steps past two Conway and Duncan Casey to dot down beside the posts. Sensational move by the wing. Lopez converts.
HT Clermont 15-6 Munster
That sublime try was the last act of the first half and Munster will be devastated to be nine points down after their good performance. Their back row has forced a lot of turnovers but unsurprisingly, the Clermont back play has been electric, and whenever they move through more than a few phases they look very dangerous.
Is there any way back for Munster?
Both of Clermont’s tries could have been avoided from a Munster perspective if they had launched the ball into the stand.
Shaun Edwards: ‘We are talking about a serious team in Clermont because Munster have played out of their skin at times.’
Axel has the boys ready to go.
We are off in the second half!
Munster have a chance to get back into losing bonus point territory after Fritz Lee uses his hand in the ruck in front of the posts. Keatley will kick from the 10m line.
Clermont 15-9 Munster
Just like in the first half, Keatley kicks an early three-pointer. One score in it now.
Clermont have a lineout on the Munster 10m line after Murray clears.
Conway misses another tackle, this time on Lopez and after the ten chips over the top, Jones trips him. Blatant foul and the TMO is looking at it. Jones will likely get a card and Clermont will have a penalty in the Munster 22.
Jones will get ten minutes in the bin and Clermont will go for the posts from the left wing in the 22.
Clermont 18-9 Munster
That could cost Munster the game. Nine points down and they have another nine minutes with a man down.
Murray snipes and uses Nigel Owens as a shield to make some extra ground. Hanrahan then kicks to the right corner and Clermont will have a lineout on their 5m line.
Clermont are able to clear their lines and now they have a scrum in the Munster half after Conway drops a clanger. It’s been a poor 20 minutes for the wing.
Another penalty for Clermont at the scrum. Lopez will go for the posts on the 10m line in a central area.
But it is an ugly kick from Lopez as he pushes it to the left.
Only one minute left on the sin-bin. Would be a big result for Munster to get out of it only losing 3-0.
Jones is back on now and Munster have a scrum on the halfway line after a Clermont knock-on.
Not for the first time in this back-to-back, Jamie Cudmore levels O’Connell.
Clermont have a chance to extend their lead further after Jamie Cudmore wins a penalty in front of the posts.
Clermont 21-9 Munster
Lopez kicks it and now Munster have a fight to even get a losing bonus point.
Clermont completely bottle a try-scoring chance. Fritz Lee explodes through a gap before offloading beautifully on the 22 to Sébastien Vahaamahina who gets tackled on the line. Despite having a four man overlap, Fofana knocks on and Munster have a 5m scrum.
Clermont usually save that kind of play for semi-finals and finals.
Munster win a penalty in their own half after Sébastien Vahaamahina comes in from the side. They have a lineout in the Clermont 22 now.
Keatley gets stuffed 10 yards behind the gain line and then Murray knocks on two phases later. Looking increasingly grim for Munster.
Clermont win yet another scrum penalty. Lopez kicks up to the Munster 22.
Clermont set their maul but the ball is lost forward and Munster clear. Keatley’s kick is poor though and the home side have another lineout in the Munster 22.
Lopez chips the ball over the Munster defence and gets hit late. Owens goes to the TMO to check for foul play.
Actually, Owens was checking for a high tackle by Sébastien Vahaamahina and Munster have a lineout on their own 10m line after being awarded a penalty.
Clermont’s concentration has dropped a little in the last few minutes and they have made some sloppy handling errors. Munster have a scrum about 35m out on the left wing.
But Clermont are awarded another penalty, with BJ Botha being singled out by Owens. Clermont will launch an attack on the Munster 22.
Clermont 26-9 Munster
Fofana cuts a lovely line off Lopez and brings play deep into the Munster 22. Then Lopez finds Chouly with a cross-kick and the captain powers through Conway to touch down.
Lopez misses the conversion. Can Clermont get a try bonus point?
TRY! Clermont 26-16 Munster
Munster have a lifeline after Duncan Casey intercepts a Fritz Lee pass and just about has the pace to make the line.
Four minutes for Munster to salvage a losing bonus point.
Munster gallop up over the halfway line with Murray and Hanrahan linking with Andrew Smith but the ball is knocked on and Clermont have a scrum.
Munster have a scrum on the halfway line on the last play of the game. They probably have to score here to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Lee goes off his feet and Munster have a penalty in front of the posts! Keatley will kick it from just outside the 10m line.
FT Clermont 26-19 Munster
Keatley nails it and Munster gets the losing bonus point at the death!
Big moment in this pool as Munster get a priceless point. A bonus point win over Sale and a victory at Saracens will put them in the mix for a quarter-final place.
Thanks for joining me for our liveblog today. Check back with us in a few minutes for reaction from Clermont. This is the current state of affairs in the pool now.
