London Irish thrilled with historic win over Munster
Earlier in the week we saw the dangerous tackle by Munster’s Sam Tuitupou against London Irish, a tackle that has earned him a meeting with the citing commissioner on Wednesday. Some asked for highlights from the match, so here they are now. Munster picked up a last gasp losing bonus point but it wasn’t enough to overshadow a famous win for London Irish in the Heineken Cup. The 23-17 win came in large part thanks to an intercept try by flyer Topsy Ojo, some solid kicking and a dropgoal by Ryan Lamb, and a 50m penalty kick from Delon Armitage.
"I'm thrilled, absolutely delighted. The losing bonus point might turn out to be relevant down the line, but I do not want that issue to cloud what was a memorable night for this club," said the jubilant London Irish coach afterwards, Toby Booth.
"This was a massive occasion and a massive effort. We played with our heads and our hearts tonight, something that we don't always do."
Munster captain Denis Leamy was naturally dissatisfied with the result. "We came here to win and we didn’t do that, and that’s a hugely disappointing thing. Yeah, we got a bonus point but we’re disappointed with the result," he said.
"As ever, we dug really deep out of a massive hole we created for ourselves, and we got a bonus point. It’s a positive thing but look, its four points lost really, so it is disappointing. We obviously gave away an intercept try – it was unfortunate but these things happen.," he added.
Ronan O’Gara, who put in a delicate kick to set up Tuitupou for the try, looked at the positives. "The great thing about Munster is that we fight to the end and we showed that again. People can say what they like about us being an ageing force but we're as ambitious as ever," he said.
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22 Comments:
Munster were pretty poor it must be said. Get more ball to the backs, that Douggie Howlet is bored on his wing!
By
Box, at October 12, 2010 10:13 pm
Yeah, Munster were poor by their standards but London Irish were good. Munster badly need a new generation to come through, but I'm not sure whether the talent that is coming is in the same league as the guys that won two European Cups. Also, the team will have to go through a few bad years while the new guys come of age - I don't know if the management team are willing to risk their jobs to do that.
By
Mike, at October 12, 2010 10:22 pm
Munster will always grind out the result that keeps em ticking over, the problem remains that at the moment it's all they seem able to do, need some impetus up front and for Earls, Murphy, Howlett etc to start running the ball. The support lines were so poor in this game it was like watching a U14 schools match.
Final gripe, professional rugby players should not be knocking on the ball constantly, discuss...
By
btesco, at October 12, 2010 11:32 pm
Munster seem light years behind Leinster right now, even with the academy players. I think they are feeling the brunt of the end of a golden generation coupled with slim pickings in their development sides. I fear for Connaughts sake, Munster may feel like "raiding the fridge" and unfortunately they will have the cash to do it.
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 12:37 am
Historic? Sort of implies that it was some sort of epic match where Irish overcame the odds... Munster are pretty weak right now and played like shit on top of that...
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 12:41 am
Munster were awful, so many unforced errors. McGahan had the selection all wrong. Murphy at fullback ahead of Warwick? Made no sense.
Earls and Tuitupou were an untested centre partnership and with Earls only coming back from injury there was no way he should have been starting such a high-intensity match. Quinlan should have been in the squad too. Munster lacked leadership and didnt do the basics right. London Irish were average but just fed off Munster's many many mistakes.
By
MCB, at October 13, 2010 12:44 am
I love these upsets. And don't really like Munster, they are like the Crusaders... win all the time. These kinds of stuff are very good for the HC.
BTW, I love that detail on London Irish player's shirts... Having the flag from their country. Did they copy it from Bath?
By
Juggernauter, at October 13, 2010 1:39 am
Munster play a very consrvative style of rugby.
The way the game's going, that style isn't going to be as effective as an attacking, open style (thank god).
By
Bill, at October 13, 2010 2:06 am
In the same vein as Juggernauter (except I'm generally a Munster fan), but on another stage, I'm hoping for some upsets in the EYOTs...I'd love some NH victories...and if Ireland could beat NZ for the first time in history, I might just run through the streets naked.
However, watching the first rounds of HC matches - the HC being about as tough as it gets up north after international matches - I've got to say I'm not holding my breath. It's amazing how slow and conservative the attacking can be in some of these games. Granted, maybe there's a completely different game plan for test matches. But it seems to me that the HC would be the right time to work on and improve that kind of quick, adventurous, attacking style of play.
And having said that, I haven't seen the Sacrlets-Perpignan match yet, which I heard was actually pretty thrilling.
By
fisty mcgee, at October 13, 2010 3:54 am
Australia and South aFrica will probably drop a game or two, because if you look at their squads, they've got alot of important players missing thru injury, or in South africa's case, being rested.
Australia will also experiment with their line up, it's what Deans does on the European tour.
They won't use the same line up two games in a row, the whole tour, and you'll see fringe players given a chance.
This will give the NH teams an opportunity to expose those player's inexperience, and France and England particularly should have the chance of a close fought win.
By
Bill, at October 13, 2010 4:18 am
As mush as I don't like this, I have to agree with MCB
By
CAI, at October 13, 2010 5:27 am
i hate how munster get so lairy
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 8:06 am
to be honest munster were playing to much rugby in my opinion they should always stick to the percentage game they usually play.
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 8:12 am
great tap through by ROG at the end, must remember that the next time people are slating him.
Munster will still go through this group I'd say. Actually, they will go further than London Irish in the competition.
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 11:22 am
Munster were shocking but London Irish showed once again how bad rugby is in england they never even looked like scoring a try and wouldnt have except of Ojo's intercept.. they won the same way SA won the Tri Nations in 09.. by not passing the ball and defending like demons. Stringer passed the ball more times that the entire LI team. If u dont pass the ball less chances of an intercept,knock on etc which means less advantage to the other team.
Stats say it all...
LI passes - 66
Munster passes - 142
stringer made 71 passes.
LI Tackles made 117
Munster tackles made 49.
LI runs - 35
Munster runs-110.
Be warned LI will be at the end of thrashing come the game in thomond
By
Anonymous, at October 13, 2010 11:26 am
MCB
Can't agree about Warrick. He's a great runner and looks good at FB when Munster are playing well, but is poor under the high ball, as evidenced any time Mun play Leinster, they always attack him. Murphy is strong in the air and as good a broken runner. Warrick's play making skills are needed at 12. The problem is there is a shortage of skills. Hurley is solid but not much else, and it was his first game of season too along with Earls. I didn't mind the intercept, but there has to be more urgency in what they do.
Also, this back to basics shit is killing me. The pick and drives are so slow and ponderous and continuously lead nowhere with spills and knock ons every single time. Watching Munster this season has been too painful. No forward seems to have an idea of what to do. Too many are being isolated and there's no change of direction like last season's win over Perpignan.
I'm heading to Toulon game, but even though they should win, its not going to be good. Maybe with Tuitupou suspended for 3 weeks we will see Warrick at 12 and some decent possession.
By
Huh!! the 3rd, at October 13, 2010 6:08 pm
To expand on what I mean.
Munster threw it around in their own 22 (including forwards), but in LI's 22 the backs never saw it, white line fever I believe, and as I mentioned above, very poor control.
The only time Munster backs had poss in LI 22 O'Gara puts in the gruber and a try results. Backs need to be given a chance in opp 22.
By
Huh!! the 3rd, at October 13, 2010 6:14 pm
It's because Munster's tactics of just holding the ball and winning penalties is no longer going to rewarded.
They haven't changed their game to adapt to the times.
These days it's about running rugby, playing with skill and flair.
They don't do that, and suffer for it.
By
Tom, at October 14, 2010 1:12 am
unless there are 5 mins to go I find it very satisfying to see someone miss a drop goal attempt
By
Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 5:39 am
Tom, I see what you're saying, but did you watch the game? Munster played all the rugby and were the only team that looked like scoring a try, until the spectacular own-goal intercept.
See that stats above, Stringer alone threw more passes than the all the LI players combined. It shows how sterile English rubgy is right now.
By
John, at October 14, 2010 6:23 pm
I did watch most of it, missed bits cuz I was supposed to be writing a report.
Look I don't think LI play heaps of rugby.
And Munster have always held the ball, more so than most teams in fact.
The problem is what they do with it when they've got it.
Posession for posession's sake is not succesful any more.
In fact, the top SH teams don't hold the ball for very long at all, they go straight for the jugular. Maybe a couple hits up the middle to centre the ball and get a quick ruck going, then they just go for all out attack, out to the backline, let the little guys do their tricks and attempt to get a try.
They'll either lose the ball after a couple of attacking phases, or they'll earn some points. The focus is almost never on holding onto the ball.
Munster traditionally keep it in tight, grind out metres and focus on retention, winning penalties and wearing down defences to score tries.
That kind of rugby is not current, it's yesterdays game.
They need to develop a more cutting edge to their game in my opinion.
By
Tom, at October 15, 2010 1:43 am
i am a big munster fan and session ticket holder its killing me to watch munster play so poorly. They had the ball for 80% of the game and did moving with it apart from knock ons and crash balls . With out a clean line out the london irish had no problem in defending a munster back line that had no plays .the munster Management look out of ideas and are sacred to take a chance on the young players coming up which is leading to guys in there mid 20s only having a had full of caps and not ready for the h-cup .
By
Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 11:38 am
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