Email: sportonline@rte.ie
By Tadhg Peavoy
1747 Right, time for me to call it a day I think. Mark 21 May in your diaries for the Heineken Cup final between Leinster and either Northampton or Perpignan. See y'after.
1745 Get a full match report on Leinster's win at this link here shortly.
1744 Stephen Connnolly From Sydney: Proud to be a Leinster man, what passion!! Leinster really wanted it, massive respect for all the guys.
1741 Perhaps a final word from Marcus McDonnell: Ha! Great to see the international contingent following the game on RTE! Dubai, Turkey, Calgary, BARBADOS! Jesus, let's hope there's no Munster men reading the feed!
Easy on the Munster boys Marcus! Let's hope Munster and Leinster combine well to bring us some similar joy at the Rugby World Cup this September!
1731 Hume and Mary Jo Crowe in Texas, USA: Heart stopping play! We will be glued to the computer on May 21! Sorry we missed the earlier Munster/Harlequins game, but your great blogging let us enjoy it anyway. Enjoy a pint and take a well-earned breather.
1726 This was a semi-final described as a final in disguise, the 2009 champions from Ireland versus the 2010 winners from France - and so it proved. Both sides were virtually level in all aspects of the game. If anything Leinster were slightly outplayed in the backline. There was so little room for error and the game was always going to come down to small margins of error and riding one's luck.
Leinster gave away a soft try to hand Toulouse an early lead and had to dig deep from there on out. But, they dug deep and matched backline masters Toulouse on the try-count. Brian O'Driscoll's sin-binning could have been a turning point, and Leinster went 20-16 behind when he was in the bin for sinners, but they showed huge mental resolve to recover from there.
Perhaps the most significant element in Leinster's win though was Sexton's presence. The outhalf was sublime, landing eight kicks from eight attempts, six of them penalties. Those kicks proving the difference.
1727 Staunton, The Irish Club, Paris: Bravo Les Bleus, I will celebrate the win in Paris tonight.
1725 Sean deBurca: Following your commentary here in Barbados..Go Leinster.
1723 Marcus McDonnell in Turkey: Nice work on the updates tadhg! I must have refreshed about 7000 times at
the end to see the result! I owe you a pint! (I have to get a ticket for cardiff now!) Hurrah!
I'll take a pint of Guinness and a postcard from Turkey Marcus! How are the kebabs there?!
1721 Katie Dawson: Following coverage of game on Rte online at Calgary International Airport- so nervous and will miss end of game because of flight!!- Come on Leinster!!!!
I hope the flight was delayed enough to catch the endgame!
1720 John Clarkin in Dubai: Thanks for keeping me up to date. 35 degrees in Dubai and very sunny. The cocktails are as smooth as your commentating.
My son Hugo(7) is good friends with Gordan D so we wish him the best.
I'd say the cocktails the Leinster boys will be drinking tonight will be pretty smooth John!
FULL-TIME: LEINSTER 32-23 TOULOUSE
79 mins Leinster 32-23 Toulouse (Sexton penalty)
Scrum Toulouse: It is solid by Toulouse and they go to Poitrenaud who passes back inside to Heymans, but the ball is intercepted by Leinster and they break downfield. Strauss sprints into the Toulouse half and if he can get the ball to Fitzgerald it's a try. The ball is deliberately knocked on by a Toulouse hand and the ref says penalty Leinster in the Toulouse ten-metre area.
With 25 seconds remaining Toulouse will not get another chance. Sexton prepares for the kick, making his usual preparation. As the clock ticks into the red he boots it at the goal, the ball bisects the posts, the assistants raise their flags, Leinster win! Final score 32-23.
78 mins Heaslip picks from the base of the scrum and drives to set the ruck. A phases later Stan Wright tries to take a pass and knocks on! Scrum Toulouse now.
77 mins Toulouse receive the kick-off. They spin wide to Clerc who takes it. Toulouse recycle multiple phases and eventually go back inside where it comes to Jauzion - he pops up a pass outside him as he is tackled, it's forward and Leinster are awarded a scrum.
75 mins Leinster 29-23 Toulouse (Bezy penalty)
The kick is deep to Toulouse who receive and they run it back and win a penalty for Leinster killing the ball at the ruck, just inside halfway.
Nicolas Bezy smacks it and the ball drops over for three points.
74 mins Toulouse change plan and spin across the entire width of the pitch to the left wing where Lamboley, the fresh substitute, receives it. Nacewa makes the tackle to stop the try - which seemed certain. The ball gets touched down by Leinster for a 22 drop out.
Stan Wright comes on for Mike Ross.
72 mins Clerc takes a crash in the middle. Poitrenaud and Sowerby carry Toulouse deep into the Leinster 22.
Doussain spins to midfield where Jauzion makes a dart. Medard is outside him and tries to spin out of tackles to make the line - he is prevented from doing so.
71 mins Toulouse go again with Poitrenaud who offloads to Clerc who rifles a kick down the line. Nacewa gets to it but knocks on the ball as he does so. A rare error from the full back.
68 mins Leinster win the lineout and go up the middle, it comes to nothing though. Toulouse on the attack now. Toulouse go wide right to Clerc, who is appearing all over the pitch. The ball is spilled and the attack ends.
67 mins Penalty to Toulouse as Daan Human takes out a Leinster player off the ball. Sexton kicks the penalty to touch. Now Cencus Johnston comes off for his uncle Johnson Falefa!
66 mins The ball pops out the scrum and Boss claims the loose ball and races 30 metres to touch down. But referee Pearson calls it back saying the ball was still in the scrum.
63 mins Leinster set up in midfield. Fitzgerald drives up the middle, coming off his wing. The ball is spun wide right Boss who has a quick snipe, but the ball does not come out of the ruck and a scrum is called.
62 mins Nacewa fields a deep kick to Leinster. Sexton is then popped the ball outside the 22 and he goes for touch - but it goes out on the full! Lineout back for Toulouse. The throw goes over the top and Strauss cleans up the loose ball.
61 mins Fritz is replaced by Jauzion. Yoann Maestri comes off for Gregory Lamboley.
58 mins Leinster 29-20 Toulouse (O'Driscoll try, Sexton conversion)
Strauss picks from a ruck and tries to burrow over, he is held short. Right on the Toulouse tryline now. Twelve phases have been played, the ball fires out to Sexton who takes it at staggering pace! He runs to contact and is met by a Toulouse welcoming party of a wall of muscle. But Leinster pile over at the ensuing ruck, recycle and Boss passes out to O'Driscoll, the centre makes for the line, then cuts in to his left, darting under the tackle of Vincent Clerc! Try Leinster!
Sexton will take the conversion from in front of the posts in the 22 - easy for the flyhalf.
57 mins Leinster win the scrum and bash forward with O'Brien. They camp in the Toulouse 22. O'Brien, Heaslip and Strauss all make carries.
57 mins McFadden comes on for Fitzgerald.
57 mins Nacewa has split open his head and needs to get his cranium mummified.
56 mins Leinster field the restart and off the ruck play it first phase out th eline where Heaslip stands at first centre. It goes outside him to Fitzgerald. He kicks long up the line and Toulouse must scramble back to secure it. Heymans is the man who does so. But Leinster keep up the pressure and the ball is spilled forward - scrum in the Toulouse 22.
54 mins Leinster 22-20 Toulouse (Sexon penalty)
Scrum Toulouse and Leinster murder the French team in the scrum forcing the wheel. Van der Merwe's arrival on the pitch has an immediate effect! Van der Merwe forced Johnston to stand up and concede the penalty.
Sexton will kick the resulting penalty from wide right of goal, on the 22. Five from five so far, and from 34 yards, Sexton makes it six from six! Leinster lead.
53 mins Jennings, Boss and Van Der Merwe are all on for Reddan, McLaughlin and Cian Healy - who has split open his head after that run.
53 mins Leinster attack with Fitzgerald and feeds Hines, the move loses pace as Hines lacks the moxy to crank up a gear. But Healy is fed the ball and he rampages 20 metres downfield. Evenually he is stopped by Picamoles when a try was on! Massive tackle from Picamoles.
50 mins Sexton garryowens long and Horgan gets under it to claim the ball. Superb Gaelic football skills from Horgan - yet again.
But Leinster loose in the next ruck and Skrela is fed at ten, he decides to go himself down the right wing. Now he loses it and Leinster secure. They spin out to O'Brien who lurks on the right wing. No way through. Leinster go wide left, there it comes to Heaslip who chips into the Toulouse 22. Strauss chases Heymans who gathers evades three Leinster tackles and clears. Heymans is having a stormer.
46 mins Leinster 19-20 Toulouse (Sexton penalty)
Sexton restarts and Horgan gets under it reclaiming possession. Leinster then go to midfield with Healy and O'Brien bashing up the middle.
On the seventh phase Leinster go with Hines, then wide left to O'Brien who straightens and almost breaks the defence. But no joy. The referee sees nothing coming from the attack and calls play back for Toulouse infringing at the ruck.
Sexton will take the penalty from wide right of goal, outside the 22. It is a perfect kick and narrows the gap.
42 mins Leinster 16-20 Toulouse (Picamoles try, Skrela conversion)
Second scrum: Toulouse absolutely destroy Leinster at the scrum, shunting the Irish pack back. The ball pops out forJean Marc Doussain who bashes forward and takes out Reddan before feeding Picamoles to dive over for an unopposed try.
Skrela gets the kick with ease as Dussautoir arrives for Nyanga.
Scrum Toulouse on the Leinster line: the first scrum collapses and Leinster look dodgy. They pack down again.
41 mins Toulouse to restart the martch to Leo Cullen. Reddan boxkicks long to Toulouse where Picamoles claims and goes back at Toulouse. They spin wide left and go all the way out to Heymans, he drifts outside then grubbers along the ground for Clerc to chase on to. It looks a try, but Clerc can't claim the ball as it gets stuck in his feet. D'Arcy comes across to snaffle the ball and prevent the try - what a let off, great grubber from Heymans.
1626 The teams are back on the pitch in Dublin.
1623 Ross O'Carroll: Thanks for the feedback. I remember being at a Leinster vs Leicester game in the old Donnybrook where less than 4k were present for a Heineken Cup game in the '90s. Isn't it amazing how many have jumped on the bandwagon?!
Us Irish like nothing more than a good band wagon alright! Are you sure there is not a Kelly missing at the end of your name Ross?! Alrroysh, loike!
1617 Incredibly tight match. Both sides are matching each other in every area: scrums, loose running, back-three creativity. Leinster started with a dodgy lineout but seem to have resolved those issues.
Brian O'Driscoll's yellow card means Leinster will play seven or so minutes with only 14 men after half-time. How will Leinster weather that storm? Back for more shorlty.
HALF-TIME: LEINSTER 16-13 TOULOUSE
41 mins Leinster 16-13 Toulouse (Sexton penalty)
Leinster grind forward with their pack and on the Toulouse 10-metre line Albacete jumps over the ruck and plays the ball - stupid idiocy from the Argentine!
Sexton will kick the resulting penalty - perfect from the flyhalf. Leinster lead at half-time!
40 mins Strauss throws to Hines who taps down. Sexton passes to Horgan, who is standing in at first centre with D'Arcy at second centre.
39 mins Nacewa is kicked loose ball by Toulouse and tries to run it back he loses it and Toulose spin wide left to Clerc, who pops uo off his wing in midfield for a quick dart.
But Toulouse lose it and Reddan boots down to the Toulouse 22 and Heymans. Heymans clears to touch.
38 mins Leinster 13-13 Toulouse (Skrela penalty)
So, Skrela will kick the resulting penalty from right of goal, on the 22. No error from Skrela, the teams are level again.
36 mins YELLOW CARD: BRIAN O'DRISCOLL
Scrum Toulouse on the Leinster 22: Jean Marc Doussain
picks from the base and darts at Leinster, he feeds Clerc on his shoudler The winger jinks past three Leinster men and into the 22. At the next ruck, O'Driscoll comes in the side of the ruck. The ref blows for offside against O'Driscoll and show him a yellow card. A little harsh from Pearson there.
35 mins Toulouse win it back and attack once more. Johnston rampages like a wild animal, he is captured and the ruck set. Toulouse are playing up the jumper stuff and recycle, and pick and go. It's rough stuff and hard to cope with, but Leinster are fronting-up physically.
34 mins Toulouse go wide left now and Poitrenaud pulls his team wide, before slipping back inside to Heymans. But in contact Heymans holds on. Penalty Leinster in their half.
33 mins Fritz is fed on the right wing and attempts to bash down the line, he is tackled low and collapses like a fallen pine tree.
29 mins Leinster 13-10 Toulouse (Heaslip try, Sexton conversion)
Toulouse are slowing down the ruck ball by committing numbers to the rucks. Heaslip has a bash at the Fench side. It goes out the line to Nacewa who has Fitzgerald on his shoulder. No way through for the winger. Heaslip picks and goes and finds a gap - hauled down short.
Then Leinster recycle and go to O'Driscoll. There is a two-man overlap outside for Leinster but O'Driscoll can't use it as he stumbles while he receives the ball. Leinster must recycle and they do. Heaslip picks and bashes his way to the line stretching every sinew to make the whitewash. He touches down on the line. The ref wants to be sure and goes to the TMO - the crowd start to roar on seeing the video replays and the TMO agrees. Try Leinster.
Sexton converts from in front of the posts.
28 mins Leinster lineout. They win and Heaslip comes around the side to hit the line hard. Leinster then go wide right, Reddan has a little snipe around the edge of the ruck. Mike Ross makes a drive - Leinster in the 22 now.
27 mins Scrum Leinster: Reddan puts in and the Irish team win it. Reddan spins wide to Sexton who has Drico on his shoulder. Nacewa comes in to the line but is met by a Toulouse shoulder which stops him. Toulouse steal and put the ball in touch.
26 mins Jean Marc Doussain boxkicks for Toulouse, Leinster claim it and set the ruck. The ball goes nowhere and the ref calls a scrum.
23 mins Leinster win the scrum and O'Driscoll boots to Heymans, he boots it back to Nacewa. The full back picks his spot out on the touchline and boots to it. Lineout Toulouse in their half. Nyanga takes the lineout.
22 mins That kick was totally overcooked by Heymans. Very poor execution from the big full back. Leinster win back possession and go wide left and set up the ruck, but Toulouse counter-ruck it and Leinster lose possession. Jean Marc Doussain picks and goes but makes little ground and Toulouse spill forward.
1553 Marcus McD, emailing from South Turkey East to imagine the sea of blue at lansdowne road from where I'm perched overlooking the ocean enjoying the evening sun... Well not really...
Hope we get the win our play deserves, this is really a final, and a
fitting occasion for such a great stadium! Let's hope they don't out-muscle us up front so we can set our backs on 'em. A little worried about luke fitz - at least we've cover on the bench through mcfadden.
Gutted to be missing it!
On leinster!!
22 mins Toulouse scrum: they win and spin right to Heymans, he kicks at Nacewa who touches down over the goal line for the 22 drop out.
21 mins Leinster recycle and go wide left now. Healy again battersa at Toulouse, then Cullen and O'Driscoll followed by McLaughlin who knocks on.
20 mins Leinster win the lineout and spin wide right. Then Reddan feeds Healy who hands off as he has a canter at Toulouse.
19 mins Very slow pace to the game so far, nothing like the intense Munster-Quins game yet.
18 mins Toulouse then swiftly go wide left and find Medard, he goes to contact and Toulouse play the ball on the ground to end the attack. Sexton will clear to touch.
18 mins Leinster go out hands in teh line, where D'Arcy knock on and Toulouse launch a counter-attack.
17 mins Schmidt takes the throw - Cullen claims, but then a red hand knocks it to the Toulouse side. But, Leinster reclaim the ball as it bounces loose.
16 mins Toulouse kick-off from Skrela, Healy claims the ball and Albacete is done for obstruction for shunting O'Brien without the ball. Sexton kicks the penalty to touch.
13 mins Leinster 6-10 Toulouse (Sexton penalty)
Toulouse again attack having taken the kick off. They grind up the middle and Fritz then makes some hard yards, but he is hauled down and accused of holding by the Leinster players - referee Pearson agrees and says penalty Leinster.
Sexton will again go for goal, this time from wide left of goal, outside the 22. It's 39 metres out...it's perfect.
12 mins Leinster 3-10 Toulouse (Skrela drop goal)
Toulouse attack. They are on the Leinster 22 and recycle well. Skrela drops back in the pocket as his pack set up a steady platform. Skrela is fed by Jean Marc Doussain and from outsdie the 22 he slots the drop goal. Classy from the number 10.
9 mins Leinster 3-7 Toulouse (Sexton penalty)
Leinster win the lineout and go out the line to D'Arcy who fends off three red shirts as he breaks into midfield. The ref says penalty back for offside by Toulouse. From in front of the posts Sexton will kick at goal. The outhalf makes no error and bisects the posts.
8 mins Scrum Leinster: They lose it and Toulouse break down the right wing. Johnston makes yards by some bashing up the middle. Then Toulouse take a crash ball on Maxime Medard. But Pearson rules Toulouse have lost it - penalty Leinster. Sexton clears to touch.
3 mins Leinster 0-7 Toulouse (Fritz try, Skrela conversion)
Nothing comes of that last attack, but Leinster then lose a scrum for committing too early. Toulouse run the free-kick through Poitrenaud. O'Driscoll tries to steal the ball at the ruck, but Pearson says it was illegal and Skrela will kick the penalty at goal from wide left of goal. He is outside the 22 and takes an age to go for it. He finally does and it looks like it's going wide, but at the last moment it curls towards the posts, and bounces off the left upright. But, as the ball lands, it bounces up and over D'Arcy who is clearing up in the goal area and Fritz steals in to grab the ball adn touch down. Pure opportunist try!
Skrela converts from in front of the posts.
2 mins Strauss throws for Leinster but it goes over the top and Toulouse steal. Servat and Jean Marc Doussain make breaks. Skrela is then fed and garryowens it before O'Brien claims the dropping ball.
2 mins Skrela boots downfield to clear the Toulouse lines.
1 min Sexton kicks off to Toulouse. Horgan claims it by storming up on it, Toulouse steal and knock to touch.
1530 The teams are on the pitch and ready for battle.
1529 The teams and officials for today:
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, L Cullen [captain], N Hines, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, J Heaslip
Replacements: J Harris-Wright, H Van Der Merwe, S Wright, D Toner, S Jennings, I Boss, I Madigan, F McFadden
TOULOUSE: C Heymans; V Clerc, F Fritz, C Poitrenaud, M Medard; D Skrela, J Doussain; J-B Poux, W Servat, C Johnston, Y Maestri, P Albacete, J Bouilhou [captain], Y Nyanga, L Picamoles
Replacements: V Lacombe, D Human, J Falefa, T Dusautoir, N Bezy, Y Jauzion, S Sowerby, G Lamboley
REFEREE: Dave Pearson (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Wayne Barnes, Stuart Terheege (both RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Greg Garner (RFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Paul Dix (RFU), TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)
1525 From a sea of red in Limerick to a wave of blue in Dublin. The home crowd is Leinster dominated and will be a huge advantage for the province today. Bring it on.
1508 That game in Limerick was pretty much the game of the season so far, let's hope for more of the same in Dublin - or dare I say it, even better? Right, I'm off for a finger massage, back soon!
1507 Pictured below: Paul O'Connell's arrival as a half-time substitute could not inspire Munster to a second half comeback against Harlequins.
1456 Maurice Riordan: Absolute disgrace. It's about time Munster realized that the fans do not want McGahan to continue as coach next year. Beaten in every facet of the game by a mediocre English side, at home, with 95% of the support behind us. Get a grip, Munster.
Big words, Maurice. To be fair Harlequins were excellent and deserved this win. Yes, they are mediocre in the Premiership at the moment, and yes, Munster have never been so outplayed at Thomond. But Conor O'Shea appears to be creating something special at Quins and perhaps this is the start of something big for them? As for McGahan, I agree there are questions marks surrounding his leadership. Those question marks have been there for a year now.
1451 What a sensational game. Quins broke the kitchen sinks off the walls of Limerick and lashed them at Munster in the first half. Their two first half-tries were superb and Munster didn't show up in that first period. That lead was complimented in the second half by some good kicking from Clegg and some quite simply world-class defence from Harlequins. Throw in two tries disallowed for Munster as a result of forward passes and Munster have lost at Thomond Park for only the second time ever in European competition and for the first time at the new Thomond Park.
FULL-TIME: MUNSTER 12-20 HARLEQUINS
81 mins Munster still continue to charge and go up the right wing with Howlett, but the ball gets lost in a ruck and Roman Poite blows the full-time whistle. That is that. Munster's European season is over.
80 mins That misses conversion from O'Gara means it's all over bar the final whistle as Munster needs eight points from one play - an impossibility.
77 mins Munster 12-20 Harlequins (Try Howlett)
Sam Tuitupou bashes up at Quins. All the Munster subs are now on. O'Gara has a pop, Munster make the 22. The Men in Red ruck and ruck and finally the space comes. The ball is spun wide right to Howlett who injects pace and breaks the Quins line from a metre out to touch down!
But, disaster, O'Gara misses the conversion from wide on the right touchline.
76 mins Quins win the lineout. However, at the next ruck, Quins hold on and Munster win the penalty. They run it with O'Gara. Stringer is on now for Munster too.
75 mins Quins in possession. Munster kick the ball out of the ruck - Mike Sherry was the infringer. Clegg kicks to the corner and Quins will trot down and wind down the clock.
74 mins Howlett is fed the ball in midfield and he turns on the gas and carves open Quins. He then chips over the top of the Quins defence and chases up on it. It's shoulder to shoulder between Howlett and Brown to touch down. Brown makes it and stops another sure try! This is quite unbelievable. Quins are defending for their lives!
73 mins Munster hold on to it and after five phases O'Gara tries a grubber ahead, but Brown scampers back to cover it. Quins will take a 22 drop-out.
71 mins Munster bash at the line and Coughlan is held short. Then Munster go wide left to Mafi. There is a two-man overlap and Mafi must feed outside for the try. But, Monye steams up and makes a ball and man tackle! Try-stopped.
70 mins RED CARD FOR HARLEQUINS' NICK EASTER
Varley finds Ryan in the lineout and pops down to O'Connel who barges at the line - he is held just short. Varley also has a go. Munster are still bashing at the line! Easter comes in the side of the ruck though and Poite hands him a yellow card, meaning he gets a red!
69 mins Munster hammer Quins back in the scrum and win a penalty as a result! O'Gara kicks to the corner.
68 mins Munster need something big now. Lineout Munster on the Quins 22. Varley to throw - he feeds O'Callaghan. Munster ruck it, but again they lose it at the ruck and Quins win the scrum put-in. Quins are having the game of their lives.
66 mins Dont' know what happened off camera there, but Munster didn't score!
Quins back on the attack and they kick to Munster. The Munster men win it and run it back through the middle. O'Connell takes a crash ball up the middle and one hand passes to Howlett on the burst - Dougie 500 burts through the Quins line and races 25 metres to touch down. But, Poite, for the second time today, rules out the try for a Munster forward pass. For the second time he is right!
65 mins Munster lineout: O'Callaghan wins it and Munster then bash up the middle. But that is the last I can see! The TV coverage cuts out!
65 mins Johne Murphy is on for Mafi.
64 mins Quins win the scrum and Easters picks from the back and charges forward. Clegg then kicks deep to Jones who feeds Earls. Earls is taken down by Camacho and Earls can only drop the ball in touch.
61 mins Munster on the charge, Keith Earls breaks down the right wing and Quins prop Marler stops him just short. Munster maul to within a metre of the Quins line and then spin wide right, the pass goes from Howlett to Jones who touches down in the corner for Munster. But, the ref says forward pass!
60 mins Huge chance for Quins here. The ball is kicked long by Quins from Clegg and George Lowe chases the ball as it bobbles into the goal area. Howlett and Lowe are neck and neck as they chase. Howlett catches Lowe as he falls over, but it wasn't intentional. It brings Lowe to the ground and the ref goes to the TMO to see if Howlett deliberately tackled Lowe without the ball and stopped a certain try. The TMO says no and it will be a scrum back. That would have been curtains for Munster!
57 mins Munster 7-20 Harlequins (Clegg penalty)
The sinners are back from the bin. Munster knock on from the lineout and Quins get a scrum on the Munster line. Quins win it and Care switches with Turner Hall. Robson takes a crash ball and Quinc work it to the line. At the next ruck, referee Poite says Munster kill the ball at the ruck - penalty Quins in front of the posts.
Clegg slots it with ease. Munster are in trouble again.
56 mins Munster win the lineout. They then maul it a few metres before Murray boxkicks long. Monye takes it and comes back inside to midfield. Robshawe carves through Munster like a knife through butter and then Clegg pops to the corner. Munster are under covers, peering out fearfully again as Quins puff out their chests.
54 mins Munster are kicked possession back by Quins. O'Gara and Sam Tuitupou makes breaks. Then O'Connell bashes past three Quins tacklers! But Munster lose it in the ruck and Quins recyle. Monye drills a kick down the pitch to the Munster corner - superb kick from the England winger.
52 mins This game is electric and end to end.
Munster go down the blindside off a ruck with Murray sniping. He finds Hayes inside him. The Bull makes the Quins players look like crockery in a china shop - but then his hoofs fail to grip the ball and he knocks on!
50 mins Quins win a penalty on halfway and they decide to take the scrum. Quins go wide off first phase where Turner Hall smashed up the middle. Moyne is then fed the ball, but is hauled down. Quins try to switch it and go right. Clegg has a man on the wing, if the loop pass makes it he will score - but the pass is awful. Coughlan intercepts and Munster clear downfield.
48 mins Munster 7-17 Harlequins (Clegg penalty)
Munster win the lineout and again ruck it like mad men. John Hayes makes some hard yards, Munster then sweep it wide to Mafi, who has Earls outside. The attack ends, but Donncha O'Callaghan and Nick Easter has both been sin-binned for an off-camera incident. I believe punches were thrown. Clegg kicks a penalty to touch, where Quins win the ball. But Coughlan is found guilty of dragging down the Quins lineout and Poite says peno to Quins. From wide right of goal outside the 22 Clegg bisects the posts. Superb strike.
1405 Frank Connolly, New Zealand: Howya Tadhg!
Hope this finds you well? Reading your notes we'er getting creamed but back from the dead me thinks!!
Some B**ls on Ronan to make that call!
45 mins Scrum Quins: now the English side will need to show steel to resist melting in this cauldron.
Early engagement from Munster and Rory Clegg, who has come on for Evans, boots to touch.
41 mins Easter knocks on and Munster win the lineout with Paul O'Connell, an amazing jump and catch.
Quins steal it and kick to touch, but Munster win the lineout again through Munster. Inspirational stuff from lock.
Munster maul it to the Quins 22. Wave after wave of Munster attack, Mafi joins the line at almost makes a linebreak.
Munster then push wide left to Howlett who Quins bring down with difficulty. Munster then spin it right to Jones who has Leamy outside him, but he runs out of space. Eventually Munster knock-on, but the intent is there. Munster want this now.
1358 The teams are about to emerge in Limerick. Huge 40 minutes ahead. Changes have been made:
For Munster, O'Connell, Hayes, Tuituppu are all on.
1353 Niall in Singapore: Sounds like Munster really getting hit for six out there, but with the score as is, we've seen Munster come back from this before. Can they do it again? I've found a pub in that's going to show the Leinster game so going to head to that but thoroughly enjoying the live text here so far, would be lost without it.
I reckon Munster can do it Niall. Quins will be exhausted from their first half effort for such little reward. That said, Munster must up their game drastically to get scores. All credit to Quins for tearing-up the underdogs tag and going for the jugular from the outset.
1350 Munster were outclassed in every facet of the game in that first half, but as is their wont, they held on and dug deep in defence. After riding their luck by seeing Evans miss two gettable kicks, O'Gara decided to kick a penalty to the corner rather than take easy points on the stroke of half-time. That paid off with a try which keeps Munster in touch - boosting their confidence and dimishing Quins. Do the English team have enough in the tank to keep up that firebrand performance in the second half, or will Munster's experience grind them down? A very intriguing second half awaits.
1349 HALF-TIME: MUNSTER 7-14 HARLEQUINS
39 mins Munster 7-14 Harlequins (Jones try, O'Gara conversion)
Munster win the lineout on the Quins line and ruck it to the whitewash. Quins have to dig deep here.
Munster pass through the hands out the backline and it reaches Felix Jones who joins the line outside Warwick. Jones's line is perfect and his momentum takes him past Brown and over for a try!
O'Gara converts from the right touchline. From nowhere, and literally being almost dead in the water, Munster are back in the game on the stroke of half-time.
38 mins Quins win it and Evans boots to Jones. Jones then boots back to Evans, who limps to the ball and is wrapped in the tackle. The ref rules that Quins play the ball on the ground at the ruck and from the penalty Munster kick to the corner through O'Gara. Evans is still injured and should be off.
38 mins Varley finds O'Driscoll but Munster knock on! Scrum Quins and Munster just can't find a rhythm at all.
36 mins Munster are in disarray. The Irish team are penalised for holding on at a ruck and Evans kicks to touch.
Gray takes the lineout and Quins win it at number two in the line,. But they hold on at the next ruck - O'Gara will boot the penalty to touch. He makes it on the Quins 10-metre line.
34 mins Munster 0-14 Harlequins (Care try and conversion)
Scrum Quins on the Munster line: MIke Brown, the Quins full back stands at outhalf. He takes a crash ball at 10 and is held just short. Quins recycle and Nick Evans, the Quins number 10, takes a crash ball at first centre. He is held just short. Then Care picks from that attack and dives at the Munster line from a half metre. It looks like he touches down, but the ref can't see and asks the TMO. The video replays look as though he make it, but it is very hard to see it he actually made the line or was just short. But the TMO thinks it was close enough and awards the try!
Care knocks over the conversion himself, as Evans is still injured.
33 mins This opening half an hour has been all Quins - they have devoured Munster whole. Yet, with seven points all that is in it. Munster are still right in it.
32 mins Actually Evans has a knee injury...In the meantime Munster have tapped and gone. Warwick and Mafi bring Munster to their 10-metre line. But Munster again are out-rucked on their own ball and Quins win it back as Munster are penalised for holding on. Quins are killing the Munster pack at the breakdown.
31 mins A scuffle breaks out and the teams must be separated. Evans is down with a head injury getting attention.
30 mins Munster knock on in their 22 and Quins are handed possession. The Quins drive and ruck it without making much ground. They then go wide left with Turner Hall. Care has a little snipe, before Robshawe makes five yards with three Munster tacklers hanging off him. Care and Marler bash a few yards and Quins make it to the tryline. At a ruck right on the Munster line the ref says Quins are holding in at the ruck - penalty Munster. They can clear their lines now.
26 mins Munster run it out of their own 22. Jones tries a grubber kick which comes back off Monye's legs and Munster must scamper back to claim it. Quins knock it in to touch first. Valrey hits O'Callaghan in the lineout. O'Gara kicks deep to Brown who fields a high ball. Quins run it back from their 22. At a ruck outside the Munster 22 Poite says Munster were killing the ball in the ruck and Evans will have another kick at goal.
This time he is left of goal, again outside the 22. A similar position to the last kick he missed, but on the left. Shockinginly poor kick as Evans pulls it to the left - it should be 13-0 now.
24 mins Munster lineout, again Maurie Fa'asavalu steals it and bashes at Munster. Robson then has a drive at the Irish team. Quins spin wide to Camacho, before Robshawe brings Quins to the Munster 22. Marler has a go next, but the ref brings the game back for a penalty for offside. Quins will kick at goal from wide right of the posts. Evans will kick from outside the 22 - he pushes the shot wide left. Bad miss.
23 mins Varley throws over the top - awful throw from the Munster hooker. Maurie Fa'asavalu claims it and bashes at Munster's midfield. Evans then fires the ball wide left to Monye, but the pass is shocking and goes into the crowd.
22 mins Quins win the scrum and Evans clears to touch.
21 mins Second scrum: this time it holds and Murray feeds to midfield. All the Munster backline need to do is spin out the line and Keith Earls is free on the wing, but Jones goes to contact - a sure try passed up as Munster knock on.
20 mins Scrum Munster: Murray puts in but the scrum must be reset.
19 mins Quins win the lineout. Again they maul it and make some hard yards. But Munster steal the ball and Conor Murray kicks ahead for Earls to chase on to. Camacho covers back to get the bouncing ball. He gets it , but Poite says he knocked on - wrong call. Scrum Munster on the Quins line, but it shouldn't be. A bit of luck for Munster.
17 mins Munster lose the lineout as the ball bounces to the Quins side, but Coughlan pounces to gather and run at Quins. He is stopped by Monye and Munster win a penalty for Munster holding on. Evans kicks to touch on halfway.
16 mins Scrum Munster on their line: the scrum collapses and Munstet this time are awarded the penalty for James Johnston binding on the arm. O'Gara bashes it to touch.
15 mins Quins maul their way to the Munster line. Munster defend with desperation. Quins rumble right to the whitewash. Then a Quins man dives for the line - he's just short. Then Mike Brown has a go, he is held up by the Munster pack over the line. No try, then Quins knock on. Munster get the scrum put in.
14 mins Scrum Munster on their own line: Quins put-in. Munster's scrum collapses and the ball is shunted back to O'Gara who lofts a kick to Quins. The English team run it back. Maurie Fa'asavalu
bashes up the left wing and Wallace makes a massive tackle to stop him in the 22.
12 mins Scrum Quins on the Munster 10-metre line: the scrum stays up and Turner Hall goes on a break, but is hauled down and loses it. But Quins counter-ruck Munster off the ball and pass out to Evans, he decides to chip over the Munster defence for Monye to chase. Earls sprints across to claim the ball and save a sure try. Munster are struggling big time here.
11 mins Quins take the kick-off and run it back through Monye. The ruck is formed then booted to O'Gara. Munster now decide to run with Leamy, but Poite calls it back for a forward pass from Munster - that was a bad call, the pass was flat.
8 mins Munster 0-7 Harlequins (Robson try, Evans conversion)
Quins win the lineout and Lowe takes into contact. It's all up the middle so far from Quins. Evans spins wide left to Camacho who beats three Munster men to make it right to the tryline before being chopped down. But, Quins recycle off Camacho's run and spin wide right off first phase. There is an overlap and lock George Robson is on the wing waiting for it. He receives it and collapses over the line.
Evans will take the conversion from wide right, outside the 22. The Thomond hush descends and Evans nails the kick.
7 mins Munster win the lineout and pass out the line. Felix Jones is mashed by Tuner Hall in the tackle and O'Gara cleans up and boots to touch, Quins totally on top so far.
6 mins The ref says scrum for a Quins Munster pass. Quins win the scrum and ruck their way forward. Then they go to Evans who finds Monye outside him. Monye goes to contact and holds on - penalty Munster in their half. O'Gara will kick to touch. He boots it past the Quins ten-metre line.
5 mins Scrum Munster in their 22: Poite blows for a free-kick and Munster take it quick and spin wide right, Howlett gets it on the wing and is hammered into touch by Moyne.
4 mins After several phases and offloading eventually Quins knock-on in the Munster 22. Quins look up for this.
2 mins Robson takes the lineout. Robshawe carries off the loose, Moyne taks a pop pass as Quins attack. James Johnson has a little dart forward before Nick Evans kicks deep to Felix Jones. Jones claims the mark and passes to O'Gara who boots clear. Quins field and run it back. Jordan Turner-Hall line breaks but has no support. He recycles and Quins keep it in midfield with Gray and Easters bashing at Munster.
1 mins O'Gara kicks off to Robshawe. Quins boot downfield to Earls. Munster break wide right where Mafi is bashed into touch by George Lowe.
1301 Roman Poite of France is the referee for today's game. A ref that Munster are not fond of at all.
1300 The teams emerge from the tunnel to the usual fanfare, music and flares. The breeze is gentle and shouldn't be much of a factor.
1259 A Stand up and Fight banner adorns one stand - Quins will need to take note and do so.
1256 It is literally a sea of red in Thomond today. There must be some Quins jerseys there somewhere, but they aint easy to see. It's going to be a cauldron today.
1255 The stands are packed in Limerick on a sunny and dry day in the south-west.
1250 The teams are out on the pitch in Limerick and gearing up for action. Conor O'Shea, Harlequins' director of rugby, has just spoken of how much respect his team have for Munster and Thomond Park. He has also spoken about how Quins have more linebreaks in the Aviva Premiership than any other team. He failed to mention that Quins are lying seventh in the Premiership.
1223 Right, I'll be back closer to 1pm to bring you coverage of the Munster match, until then, read on below.
1218 A reminder you can watch highlights of the Toulouse v Leinster match in the 2010 semi-finals of the Heineken Cup here. (Final score Toulouse 26-16 Leinster.)
1209 A reminder of the Munster and Harlequins teams for today:
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick, K Earls; R O'Gara [captain], C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; D Leamy, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, D Ryan, P Stringer, S Tuitupou, J Murphy.
HARLEQUINS: M Brown; G Camacho, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Monye, N Evans, D Care, J Marler, J Gray, J Johnston, O Kohn, G Robson, m Fa'asavalu, C Robshaw [captain], N Easter.
Replacements: M Cairns, C Jones, M Lambert, T Vallejos, W Skinner, D Moore, R Clegg, R Chisholm.
1140 Tony Ward wrote a very interesting piece in Tuesday's Irish Independent examining the deteriorating role of the scrum in today's game. As all followers of the game will know, this season the scrum has been a quagmire of collapses, penalties being conceded and confusion over the exact rules and interpretations being adopted by referees.
Ward pointed to the fact that the new way of forming a scrum, whereby the referee calls 'Touch, crouch, pause, engage', is a method of limiting impact on the front rows - thereby improving safety for all the front rows concerned. Ward suggested an alternative whereby the pause and engage stages are removed. Instead he suggests that it is the space between the two front rows that cause the damage upon impact; if the referee lines up the packs no more than a foot apart then calls 'Crouch, engage', Ward implies the scrum will collapse less and also be safer.
So, as you get ready for a day of epic rugby action chew on that thought - as well as your Saturday morning cornflakes. What I want to know is do you agree with Ward, or do you have any other suggestions to improve the scrum? Remember the key is keeping the set-piece safe, but also a battleground where collapsing and risk of boredom for fans from slow and gentle engagement are eliminated.
In addition, I ask how can Ireland solve their propping crisis? It has been pointed out ad nauseum over the last number of years that the country has a dearth of top-level talent in that position. In the same article Ward cites the IRB's 1994 decision to reduce the distance a scrum can move at schools' level to a metre and a half. This ruling caused coaches to pick back-rows at front row to maximise loose play around the pitch. Indeed I remember my own coach in schoool trying to convert me from a back row to a hooker around 2001!
To you I ask, how should the problem be solved? Does the IRFU need to set up special prop clinics? The idea here would be to give special extra training to all the best dedicated props in the country at school and club level in order to have a top-tier production line when it comes to senior level. And/or should the IRFU look to import Georgian or Argentinean props - countries where there is a surplus of quality front rows - at underage level, giving them scholarships at schools and universities in order to plug the gap at club, province and international level, until the younger kids come through the propping clinics? Or is this unethical and against nurturing Irish talent?
Let me hear your thoughts? Email me at sportonline@rte.ie.
1135 Munster are first up in European action today. Read about the Munster team here:
Munster coach Tony McGahan makes just one change from the XV that started against Brive in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final for Saturday's semi-final against Harlequins at Thomond Park.
That sole change comes in the backline where Paul Warwick takes the place of Sam Tuitupou to partner Lifeimi Mafi in the centre.
Paul O'Connell wasn't named in the extended squad announced on Wednesday as McGahan waited to see how he came through what was only his second full contact session since picking up the ankle injury against Leinster a month ago.
As it transpired, O'Connell showed no ill effects from his exertions and is named on a particularly strong looking bench alongside Marcus Horan, John Hayes and Peter Stringer, who between them have over 600 Munster caps.
Munster v Harlequins, Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals, Thomond Park, Saturday, 1pm:
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick, K Earls; R O'Gara [captain], C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; D Leamy, D Wallace, J Coughlan.
Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, D Ryan, P Stringer, S Tuitupou, J Murphy.
HARLEQUINS: M Brown; G Camacho, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Monye, N Evans, D Care, J Marler, J Gray, J Johnston, O Kohn, G Robson, m Fa'asavalu, C Robshaw [captain], N Easter.
Replacements: M Cairns, C Jones, M Lambert, T Vallejos, W Skinner, D Moore, R Clegg, R Chisholm.
1135 Today's games:
Amlin Challenge Cup:
Munster v Harlequins, kick-off 1pm.
Heineken Cup:
Leinster v Toulouse, kick-off 3.30pm
1118 Leinster v Toulouse preview:
In the quarter-finals Leinster did away with the physical powerhouse of Europe, Leicester; the team that batters its opponents to a pulp and when they are exhausted finishes them off.
In the semis they face a very different challenge. Toulouse are the aristocrats of Europe, four-time European champions and seventeen time winners of the French national league. This is a side that over the years has epitomised the beautiful running game of French rugby. Past greats of the club include Thomas Castaignede, Emile N’Tamack and Gareth Thomas.
The current crop of Stade Toulousain players is a continuation of this history with top world players Maxime Medard, Cédric Heymans and Vincent Clerc peppering the backline.
Against Leicester the Irish province were encountering route-one rugby, with little of a plan B option. Toulouse will have several different tactics ready to deploy against Leinster and they play a similar-type game to Joe Schmidt's men. That it so say, they a very strong pack, which can also handle the ball superbly in the loose, providing key go-forward ball for a backline which has creativity as its mantra.
The game is likely to pan-out as a clash of similar styles, but if Toulouse are unlocking little as the game wears on, they seem the more likely to adopt a forward-grunt focused approach than Leinster are.
One of the key areas of danger is the French back three, which can be rated as the best in Europe – only bested perhaps by Leinster's. Much will depend on the clash of the number 11,14 and 15 players on both sides. Both trios will be judged on their counter-attacks and tackling. It is likely that - much like in the Leicester encounter - Leinster will be matched up front in set-pieces and rucking, or even slightly outplayed. Therefore, it can be predicted that many of the game-breaking moments will take place in the hands - and at the feet - of the outside backs.
In the centre, Brian O’Driscoll is the standout player in Europe this season and should outshine his opposite number, the steady but often workman-like Florian Fritz. But at inside centre there remain question marks of Gordon D’Arcy’s ability to last the pace and make all his tackles. Admittedly since the Ireland v England RBS 6 Nations game he has been awesome, but prior to that he was viewed as the weak fissure in both the Ireland and Leinster backlines. At 12 for Toulouse, Clement Poitrenaud’s devastating running will test D’Arcy to the maximum.
A further carrot that will be dangling for Leinster is the desire to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat to the French side at Stade de Toulouse - a game that Leinster lost 26-16.
Watch the highlights of that defeat here.
One major Leinster player was missing for that game in 2010; Jonathan Sexton was sidelined with a broken jaw, meaning the committed, but limited Shaun Berne had to deputise. This time Sexton is back in the driving seat at outhalf. Sexton’s presence edges Leinster into the position of favourites.
For another angle on today’s match, read Brendan Cole’s preview here.
Tadhg Peavoy
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Toulouse: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Clément Poitrenaud, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles , 7 Yannick Nyanga, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Census Johnston, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Daan Human, 18 Johnson Falefa, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Nicolas Bezy, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Shaun Sowerby, 23 Grégory Lamboley.
REFEREE: Dave Pearson (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Wayne Barnes, Stuart Terheege (both RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Greg Garner (RFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Paul Dix (RFU), TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU).
