The French side have turned Pool 1 on its head
Resolute, demented defending from Clermont Auvergne and a stunning performance by New Zealand No.8 Fritz Lee were key elements as Munster fell to a 16-9 defeat at Thomond Park.
By the grace of a Munster-supporting God, Anthony Foley’s men remained in touch at half-time. Clermont Auvergne led 16-6 at the break in their Champions Cup pool clash but should have been out of sight after throwing a French sink at Munster in the opening 40 minutes.
Lee opened the scoring for the 2013 Heineken Cup finalists after Clermont secured an attacking 5m line-out and mauled superbly after claiming the throw. Lopez’ conversion was off target. Napolioni Nalaga should have stretched his team’s lead but fumbled when trying to claim a grubber.
Ian Keatley reduced the arrears with a penalty before Lopez missed a penalty. Clermont pressed on relentlessly, however, and, after Aurelien Rougerie made ground up the left, Lee found Wesley Fofana for the visitor’s second try.
Lopez, thankfully for the home fans, missed the extras. The out-half was undeterred and responded to a second Keatley penalty by landing one off the kicking tee and a 40m drop goal.
Munster lost prop Dave Kilcoyne to injury in the first five minutes. The prop was replaced by James Cronin.
The second half took on a grinding theme with Munster edged back into the contest. Another Keatley penalty has left it 16-9 with less than 20 minutes remaining. Munster pounded Clermont’s lines in the closing stages but could never get on the front-foot in their 22.
English referee Wayne Barnes angered the home supporters with many of his decisions – and refusals to sin-bin Clermont players – but the French side were worthy winners. Munster console themselves with a losing bonus point but must reverse the result at Stade Marcel Michelin next weekend to stay alive in the competition.
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