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Keith Earls and Felix Jones celebrate. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Munster v Toulouse, Heineken Cup

We went minute-by-minute as Rob Penney’s men looked to overcome a powerful French challenge in Thomond Park.

ONE OF THE best rugby weekends of the season is underway. The Heineken Cup quarter-finals never fail to excite and we were live from Thomond Park as Munster and Toulouse kicked things off.

Rob Penney will head for Japan at the season’s end, but his focus for now is on finishing his time at Munster with a trophy. Standing in the way of European progress were French powerhouses Toulouse, a club that is synonymous with the Heineken Cup.

Peter O’Mahony returned to lead Munster, while the Top 14 side were majorly boosted by the late inclusion of key playmaker Luke McAlister at out-half. We were treated to another memorable clash in Limerick.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the match. E-mail murray@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Munster 47 – 23 Toulouse

Welcome along to our live coverage from Limerick, where we’re expecting a closely-fought encounter. There was rain here this morning, but conditions have cleared up and the pitch is looking in decent nick.

Feel free to send in your early predictions to get us underway… Do Munster have the ability to secure a home victory, or will Toulouse get the H Cup weekend started with an away victory?

Rob Penney is taking a quick walking tour around the Thomond Park pitch and he gets a nice round of applause from the Munster fans who have arrived early. The Kiwi then goes over the today’s ball boys and shakes every one of their hands.

Penney heads over to the other side of the stadium and he’s chatting with some young fans now. Really appears to have a fondness for the province.

Our first prediction of the afternoon comes via John O’Brien:

Will be a ferocious battle, Toulouse won’t shirk one iota – but Munster will prevail.

Without further ado, here are the starting teams and subs for today’s clash. McAlister in at 10 is really important for Toulouse, as so much of their best attacking play goes through him. Nyanga misses out on a bench spot.

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell; Peter O’Mahony (capt.), Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, Alan Cotter, Donncha O’Callaghan, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever.

Toulouse: Maxime Médard; Yoann Huget, Florian Fritz, Gaël Fickou, Hosea Gear; Luke McAlister, Jano Vermaak; Gurthrö Steenkamp, Christopher Tolofua, Yohan Montès; Yoann Maestri, Patricio Albacete (capt.); Yacouba Camara, Joe Tekori, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Cyril Baille, Schalk Ferreira, Jaba Bregvadze, Romain Millo-Chluski, Gillian Galan, Jean-Marc Doussain, Lionel Beauxis, Clément Poitrenaud.

A scene from the Munster changing room. The man in that six shirt is sure to have a big say in the outcome of this game.

General view of the changing room Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

With just under an hour until kick-off here in Limerick, now is as good a time as any to catch up on former Munster and Ireland back row David Wallace’s pre-match thoughts. Check out this week’s column:

David Wallace: Result too tight to call but Munster will deliver best performance yet

And there’s more on the game from ex-Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin, who says Munster are built for this European competition:

Adrian Flavin: Heineken Cup rugby to Munster is like a red rag to a bull

TheScore.ie reader Gary reckons this game is a vital one for Munster’s monetary health.

Best of luck Munster. Financially this is a must win game.

Several of the Munster backs are out on the pitch already, and Conor Murray’s passing is particularly slick as he runs through a warm-up drill with skills coach Ian Costello. Ian Keatley is on target with his first kick at goal, how important will his place kicking be this afternoon?

Munster will have at least one passionate supporter over in France in the shape of their former hooker Denis Fogarty, who is now playing with Agen in the Pro D2.

But it seems there are Munster supporters all over the world tuning in for this one! Can anyone recommend a good pub to Patrick Fitzgerald?

I’ve got one hour to find somewhere showing this game in Florianópolis, Brazil. come on munster. stand toe to toe trade blow for blow!!

From a tactical viewpoint, this game will be fascinating. Toulouse made a stunning 104 offloads during the pool stages of this season’s Heineken Cup, an average of 17.3 per game.

How will Munster look to deal with that undoubted threat? Grenoble skills coach Mike Prendergast, whose side beat Toulouse earlier this season, talks us through it:

Stopping the offload and O’Mahony’s breakdown work the keys for Munster

It’s the small things in life… This is via TheScore.ie reader Begrudgy:

Thank God its raining and i don’t have to do the garden. Come on Munster.

Really interesting afternoon ahead for Yacouba Camara, Toulouse’s 19-year-old flanker. He played for France U20s during the recent Six Nations, but has made an impact in the Top 14 for Guy Novès’ team.

The former Massy man is very dynamic and a wonderful athlete, almost elastic in his actions. With big Joe Tekori wearing seven, Camara will certainly have to contribute plenty at the breakdown. Can he manage Peter O’Mahony?

This record provides some confidence for Munster fans…

Munster out on the pitch for their warm-up and the reception is immense. Not quite a full Thomond Park just yet, but we’re getting there. No sign of the Toulouse squad…

Just over 20 minutes to go until kick-off, so here’s a reminder of the starting teams for anyone who is joining us late. Which are the key battles in your opinion?

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell; Peter O’Mahony (capt.), Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, Alan Cotter, Donncha O’Callaghan, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever.

Toulouse: Maxime Médard; Yoann Huget, Florian Fritz, Gaël Fickou, Hosea Gear; Luke McAlister, Jano Vermaak; Gurthrö Steenkamp, Christopher Tolofua, Yohan Montès; Yoann Maestri, Patricio Albacete (capt.); Yacouba Camara, Joe Tekori, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Cyril Baille, Schalk Ferreira, Jaba Bregvadze, Romain Millo-Chluski, Gillian Galan, Jean-Marc Doussain, Lionel Beauxis, Clément Poitrenaud.

Toulouse arrive out to some tongue-in-cheek booing from the Munster fans. Stephen Archer, out injured with a bulging disk, is being interviewed pitch-side and admits he’s “gutted” to miss such an important game.

“I’d say it’ll be a very confrontational game up front, Toulouse have a very big, heavy pack. I’m looking forward to the battle between the two South Africans – BJ Botha and Steenkamp for Toulouse.”

This fairly epic video is being blasted out on the big screen here at Thomond. If this doesn’t get you in the mood for this game, nothing will!

Munster View / YouTube

Difficult to call this clash, but how do you see it going? For what it’s worth, we’re going for Munster by 2-4 points. Rare for teams to run away with a Heineken Cup quarter-final and Toulouse have been building nicely for this over the last month.

McAlister back at 10 is important for them, but Peter O’Mahony being fit to captain Munster is even more crucial.

Nigel Owens is the referee for this one, which is usually a guarantee of an open, flowing game. Both sides like to keep possession for long periods, and with that Toulouse offloading game and Munster’s improving counter-attack, it’s well poised to be a classic.

Munster finish their warm-up and complete a half-lap jog of the pitch. Incredible volume in Thomond Park already! Toulouse head into the sheds too to get their jerseys on. Less than 10 minutes until we get underway…

‘Stand Up and Fight’ is belting out around the stadium now. Hard not to think this is going to be one of those Munster days, but the sheer size of Toulouse’s players was a stark reminder not to be over-confident. They are gigantic.

Census would love to be togging out; his neck injury is a big blow for the visitors. How will Montès do against Kilcoyne at scrum time?

Patricio Albacete leads out the Toulouse team to respectful applause… And here come Munster! Magnificent atmosphere as Thomond explodes into deafening cheering. Munster’s supporters are well up for this! Hope the game matches the volume…

1 minute - Luke McAlister gets the game underway!

1 minute - Solid stuff from Munster to start. Coughlan carries the kick-off back aggressively and Murray box kicks clear into touch. Toulouse with a line-out 40 metres out and O’Mahony has stolen it! There’s a penalty too as Toulouse fail to roll away at the next ruck…

2 minute - A brief scare as Peter O’Mahony landed awkwardly from that line-out steal and clutched his shoulder. He’s back up and into the action though.

4 minutes - A whirlwind start from Munster who are attacking with pace and ambition, offloading out of the tackle and beating defenders with their pace and footwork. They’re up to the 22 and building momentum…

TRY! Munster 5-0 Toulouse (Earls ’5)

5 minutes - Scintillating stuff from Munster as they send Earls over in the right corner. The forwards hammered away at the Toulouse defence, making gains on every carry before Keatley sent the ball wide to Zebo. The left wing took the tackle and made a looping offload to Earls to dive over on the right….

CONVERSION! Munster 7-0 Toulouse (Keatley ’6)

Nailed it!

8 minutes - And Munster give away a penalty directly from the restart, that’s disappointing. But what a try that was. 20 phases of electric attack  and clinically taken. McAlister…

PENALTY! Munster 7-3 Toulouse (McAlister ’8)

9 minutes - More frustration for Munster as Keatley’s restart fails to go the full 10 metres. He looked to drop it short, wide out on the left. A very difficult kick and now Toulouse have a midfield scrum.

10 minutes - Toulouse’s first real attack in the game ends swiftly as Médard passes the ball forward to Huget out on the right, under pressure from the aggressive Munster defence. The home team get the ball back with the put-in to the scrum, can they build another score?

12 minutes - Owens gives Munster the penalty at the scrum as Toulouse shove before the ball comes in. There’s a brief exchange of handbags, but now Keatley will kick the ball down the left touch-line. Line-out to Munster around 30 metres out, nice platform here…

13 minutes - Anthony Foley will be annoyed with that set-piece as Munster fail to get their man in the air and turn the ball over. Toulouse clear deep and then Zebo is forced to boot it into touch. Toulouse look to attack through Fritz and Fickou, but there’s a wonderful penalty turnover on the deck from BJ Botha, with Varley assisting.

15 minutes - Line-out Munster on the right, just outside the Toulouse 22…

16 minutes - Varley throws expertly to the tail, O’Mahony takes it cleanly and Munster set off with that powerful maul of theirs. Toulouse come in the side as they filter back and Owens awards a penalty to the home team.

Keatley lines it up, about 5 metres to the right of the posts and 23 metres from the tryline…

PENALTY! Munster 10-3 Toulouse (Keatley ’16)

18 minutes - Munster a little slow to organise on their kick chase after Murray’s clearing box, but they recover and get off the line aggressively wide out on the left. Zebo’s counter-rucking forces a knock-on from the French side, excellent work there.

19 minutes - Toulouse get the ball back, but they are very loose around the ruck so far. Missing a rucking player nearly every time and Munster turn it over again and then win a penalty.

That’s Peter O’Mahony’s game over though! That shoulder injury has seen him head off.

CJ Stander on for O’Mahony is the back row.

21 minutes - Munster are just metres out after another maul! Conor Murray snipes and nearly gets there! But he’s held up. It’s going to be a scrum five metres out for the home team. Very, very dominant at present.

22 minutes - Murray gets set to feed, but Owens signals for another penalty as Montès loses his bind on Kilcoyne. The Welshman has a word of warning as Keatley lines up the kick from a replica position to the last time…

PENALTY! Munster 13-3 Toulouse (Keatley ’23)

24 minutes - Toulouse regain their restart once again, but they looks short of ideas in attack. Munster win a brilliant turnover in contact wide on the right, with BJ Botha barreling forward. But Keatley’s looping pass to Zebo flies directly into touch behind the wing.

25 minutes - Superb choke tackle from Munster to make yet another turnover in contact. O’Connell, Varley, Foley, and the majority of the forwards involved in that one. Penney’s men are enjoying dominance of this game so far, excellent performance in the opening 25 minutes.

28 minutes - Unlucky, as O’Connell’s linking pass in close to the ruck is adjudged to have gone forward. We saw a first big carry from CJ Stander in that passage of play though, he will be looking to cover for the loss of O’Mahony with his different skillset.

Scrum to Toulouse now just inside the Munster half and in a central position…

29 minutes - As we say it, Stander gives away a penalty and McAlister will have a go from 45 metres out…

PENALTY! Munster 13-6 Toulouse (McAlister ’30)

31 minutes - That’s brilliant from the Thomond Park crowd! Tolofua gets set to throw into the line-out, but the sheer volume means he can’t hear the call and Owens enevtually signals a free-kick for delaying the throw.

But then Munster knock-on inside their 22 as they attempt to organise their exiting kick. Scrum to Toulouse out on the right, great chance…

33 minutes - The scrum penalty goes to Toulouse on this occasion as the French side begin to come into this game. McAlister to kick from the right of the posts, 28 metres out…

PENALTY! Munster 13-9 Toulouse (McAlister ’34)

37 minutes - Toulouse attempt to build inside the Munster 22, but Murray clears with a box kick after more excellent work in the tight by his pack. Hosea Gear than knocks-on as he attempts to field the kick and Munster have scrum inside the Toulouse half…

38 minutes - There’s a real battle developing in that scrum. Owens re-sets it after Munster’s Dave Kilcoyne gets a nudge up on the left and the whole set-piece rotates. The Welsh referee is now talking to both front rows. Here we go again…

39 minutes - That’s unlucky for Toulouse. After Downey carries in midfield, Joe Tekori absolutely blasts the counter-ruck and the French side win the ball. Fickou scampers away down the right, but Owens pings Toulouse for going off their feet. Tough call…

40 minutes - The Munster maul is rolling again…

HALF TIME! Munster 13-9 Toulouse

Frustrating end to that particular attack as Laulala attempts an ambitious offload and it’s too low for Felix Jones to gather. Nice momentum building there, and Penney’s men have really let Toulouse off the hook.

What are your thoughts on that first-half? Munster have enjoyed a measure of dominance, but they lead by just four points. We haven’t really seen Toulouse fire a shot in an attacking sense. Let us know how you see the second half going!

TheScore.ie reader Tim O’Connor has been on to us from Cambodia. That’s dedication!

Just reading this in Battambang, Cambodia as the first rains have arrived and no electricity. C’mon Munster!

Ian Keatley had a strong first 40 for Munster. Looking to carry the ball to the line, even when he doesn’t go into contact. That’s allowing his teammates a little more time on the ball when he passes. On top of that, his kicking has been excellent.

Which players have stood out for you?

Ian Keatley Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Lots and lots of possession for Munster in the first 40. Toulouse are surely going to enjoy a period of the game where they can keep the ball and build more incisive attacks. Slightly worrying that Penney’s men are not further in front…

Having said that, Toulouse’s defence has scrambled well and their restarts have been good after conceding.

The teams are back out on the pitch and Owens is doing his final checks before we recommence at Thomond Park…

41 minutes - Keatley goes deep the right and Toulouse’s clearing kick is poor. Immediate chance to attack from just outside the French side’s 22. O’Connell claims the line-out…

42 minutes - The maul bursts forward…

TRY! Munster 18-9 Toulouse (Kilcoyne ’42)

42 minutes - That is superb from the Munster pack. O’Connell claimed the line-out and the maul was excellently organised again. Once it was stopped, Murray sniped and went close, before Kilcoyne picked and dived over. Keatley to convert…

CONVERSION! Munster 20-9 Toulouse (Keatley ’43)

44 minutes - Wow! There’s a reminder of what Toulouse can do. Again, they win the restart and then McAlister bursts through the line in midfield. Vermaak makes more ground before offloading to Huget on the right. The France wing is just about tackled into touch!

45 minutes - But we’re back down the other end of the pitch now! A loose pass over the head of Fickou by McAlister allows Earls to hack the ball deep into Toulouse territory and he nearly wins the chase. Médard taps the ball into touch and it’s a Munster line-out just 15 metres out…

TRY! Munster 25-9 Toulouse (Stander ’47)

46 minutes - Stander boshes over after Murray and Varley went close. The maul again laid the platform!

CONVERSION! Munster 27-9 Toulouse (Keatley ’47)

This is excellent from Munster.

49 minutes - There have been two changes for Toulouse:

Schalk Ferreira is on for Steenkamp at loosehead. Millo-Chlusky is on for Maestri in the second row.

‘The Fields of Athenry’ is ringing out around Thomond Park.

TWO YELLOW CARDS! Both Kilcoyne and Montès go to the bin after the latest collapsed scrum. No hesitation from Owens and he had warned them.

Two more changes for Toulouse:

Poitrenaud is on for Médard at fullback, Jaba Brebvadze on at hooker for Tolofua.

50 minutes - Scrum penalty for Munster as they get a huge shove on in the 7 v 7 set-piece. John Ryan came on for Tommy O’Donnell while Kilcoyne is in the bin, and Cyril Baille is on for Toulouse. It was Ryan who dominated that one though!

Keatley to kick from 41 metres out, 16 infield from the left touchline…

51 minutes - The ball falls off the tee…

52 minutes - And Keatley’s kick goes wide to the left.

52 minutes - A further change for Toulouse:

Lionel Beauxis is on at out-half in place of McAlister.

53 minutes - Here’s a nice shot of Munster celebrating that Kilcoyne try just after the interval.

Dave Kilcoyne celebrates his try with Paul O'Connell Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

TRY! Munster 27-14 Toulouse (Gear ’54)

From nowhere!

CONVERSION! Munster 27-16 Toulouse (Beauxis ’54)

This is not over yet…

55 minutes - Toulouse finally being spreading the ball into wide channels and it’s paying dividends. Poitrenaud has added real creativity to their attack and he’s sparked another one here. The replacement fullback initiated that try for Gear, jinking down the right.

Millo-Chluski offload in midfield and then Gear finished powerfully from 30 metres out, beating two tacklers.

56 minutes - A change for Munster:

Damien Varley has been called ashore, with Duncan Casey on in his place.

57 minutes - Munster continue to defend superbly though and Coughlan wins a brilliant steal at the breakdown inside Munster’s half. Keatley bangs it downfield, but again Poitrenaud bursts through a pair of tackles. He looks so, so dangerous. Toulouse kick clear down the left and Munster will get the ball back…

59 minutes - An injury for Toulouse and they’ve been forced into another substitution:

Louis Picamoles goes off, with Gilian Galan on at No. 8.

Munster back on the attack now. Zebo with a half break after switching off Keatley!

61 minutes - That’s an opportunity wasted, but Munster went very close. Some clever offloading by Laulala started their go-forward on the right, before O’Connell made a strong carry. Casey did well to hold a stray pass in midfield, but then Zebo has a 3-on-2 down the left and just didn’t give the pass.

Donncha O’Callaghan is on for Dave Foley. Also, Kilcoyne is back on the pitch alongside Montès, meaning O’Donnell also returns.

61 minutes - Scrum penalty to Munster in the left corner! Ferriera gets pinged this time for dragging the set-piece to the deck. Another powerful effort from BJ Botha.

Keatley is lining this one up, 24 metres out and 10 metres in from the touchline on the left…

PENALTY! Munster 30-16 Toulouse (Keatley ’62)

Splits the uprights.

64 minutes - Keith Earls nearly won a footrace against Camara there. Chance for Munster now!

TRY! Munster 35-16 Toulouse (Laulala ’64)

64 minutes - Toulouse tried a quick 22 drop-out and Munster were awake to it. The ball was shipped to a huge overlap out on the left and Laulala cantered over!

65 minutes - Keatley pulls his conversion to the left of the posts, but Munster are fully in control now. Another clinical try. This time they win the restart from Beauxis too, and will now kick clear through Jones…

67 minutes - Toulouse beginning to fall off a few tackles now, and they’re certainly getting a little lazier in defence. Kilcoyne just had an excellent carry in midfield, pirouetting out of Tekori’s big hit attempt.

JJ Hanrahan is on for James Downey, and the Kerryman goes to 10, with Keatley moving out one position.

68 minutes - Munster make another substitution, and off comes the right wing who has been very impressive.

Gerhard van den Heever on for Keith Earls.

Toulouse with a midfield scrum in their own half to get us back underway now…

69 minutes - Excellent tackle by Kilcoyne on Tekori, those two seem to be having a bit of a battle! Toulouse in possession inside their own half, going from touchline to touchline but not making headway so far…

But then Gear bursts onto the ball and goes through a tackle…

70 minutes - It’ll be a scrum five for Toulouse, after Huget made a threatening run out on the right, grubbering ahead. Jones went to deck to gather the ball, but spilled it over his own tryline and Zebo was forced to touch down under pressure from Huget.

70 minutes - Toulouse to feed into the scrum…

Doussain has come on for Florian Fritz in the centre.

72 minutes - Toulouse going through the phases five metres out…

TRY! Munster 35-21 Toulouse (Tekori ’72)

73 minutes - The big back row burst over from close range, no stopping him!

CONVERSION! Munster 35-23 Toulouse (Beauxis ’73)

74 minutes - Munster back on the attack inside Toulouse’s 22!!

TRY! Munster 40-23 Toulouse (Zebo ’75)

75 minutes - Magnificent work from the outstanding CJ Stander in the build-up there. He stripped the ball from Toulouse in contact, then carried aggressively a phase later. Munster spread it wide to the left and Zebo just ran over the top of Huget!

Keatley wide with the conversion effort.

76 minutes - A change at scrum-half, and also one at tighthead for Munster:

BJ Botha is off for John Ryan, while Duncan Williams comes on for Murray at nine.

78 minutes - CJ Stander deservedly gets named man of the match. Absolutely brilliant impact from him after Peter O’Mahony went off injured in the first half. So powerful, worked very hard and was excellent around the ruck area too.

79 minutes - Munster with yet another chance to score here!

TRY! Munster 45-23 Toulouse (O’Connell ’80)

Perfect!

80 minutes - O’Connell goes over from a Hanrahan offload! Superb attacking play from Munster again.

CONVERSION! Munster 47-23 Toulouse (Keatley ’80)

FULL TIME! Munster 47-23 Toulouse

That is comprehensive stuff from Rob Penney’s players. Superb performance from them, particularly up front.

This is from TheScore.ie reader Mark O’Hagan:

Normal service resumed at Fortress Thomond Park. You know how special Munster are when they can make a team that has won the Heineken Cup 4 times look very ordinary.

That was hugely entertaining from Munster. The maul laid a superb platform for several of their tries, while the backs were clinical in finishing the chances that came their way. Toulouse were a little disappointing, but the Munster defence managed to nullify their attacking power for much of the game.

What did you think? Is that Munster team good enough to win the competition outright this season? What were the keys to this game?

Both teams stay on the pitch to applaud their supporters. None of the Munster fans moving out of Thomond Park just yet. A brilliant start to the weekend for the Irish provinces, and hopefully a sign of things to come for Ulster and Leinster.

That’s all we have time for on the liveblog, so thanks for your comments. Keep the opinions coming, as we’ll be bringing reaction from Thomond Park and more Heineken Cup coverage throughout the day. Cheers!

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