Champions Cup
Munster Fall to Seventh Straight Semi-Final Defeat
Munster have been knocked out of the Champions Cup at the semi-final stage once more with defeat to Saracens
Hopes of an All-Irish Champions Cup final are over after Munster lost 32-16 to Saracens in the semi-final stage at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
? @Saracens are in the Final ?
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 20, 2019
A dominant, brutal display from the English side as they book their place at St James' Park on 11 May ?@Munsterrugby exit at the semi-final stage once again, but what an arm wrestle we witnessed today ? pic.twitter.com/xuNU457xEC
The loss is Munster’s seventh semi-final defeat in a row and means the nations hopes now lie with Leinster as they face Toulouse on Sunday for a place in the final.
The huge physical battle was kicked off by Owen Farrell, who knocked over a penalty after only two minutes to put the hosts 3-0 up.
On nine minutes Munster struck level thanks to a Tyler Bleyendaal penalty.
Farrell kicked a further two penalties without reply by the 26th minute as Saracens went 9-3 ahead.
Bleyendaal slotted home his second penalty of the afternoon, before Conor Murray stepped up to score a monster long-range penalty to bring the sides level.
On the stroke of half-time Farrell finished as he started with his fourth penalty of the game to bring the home side 12-9 up at the whistle.
A slender advantage for @Saracens over @Munsterrugby at the break ?
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 20, 2019
Will there be a try in this match?? #Heineken #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/XCryX0V0Yu
The visitor’s massive defensive effort in the opening half told only two minutes into the second half as Saracens kept the ball well before Michael Rhodes got in for the first try of the game. Farrell converted to stretch their lead out to 19-9.
By the 53rd minute they were further in front when Farrell kicked his fifth and sixth penalties of the day to make it 25-9.
With 20 minutes remaining Munster got themselves back into the game as they worked the ball out to Darren Sweetnam who raced over to touch-down. JJ Hanrahan converted to make it 25-16.
Billy Vunipola got the next score with 10 minutes left when he broke through for his sides second try. Farrell was on hand once more to add the extras.
Saracens were reduced to 14 men when Vincent Koch was sin-binned, but it made little difference as Saracens held on for a 32-16 win.
After the game a fan wearing a Munster jersey confronted Billy Vunipola following his support for Israel Folau’s anti-LGBT comments on social media recently. Which left a soar taste to the tie.
In the post-match press conference Munster head coach Johann van Graan admitted his side were second-best on the day.
“We weren’t good enough on the day, we got beaten by the better team so no excuses from our side,” he said.
Saracens march on to the final in Newcastle now where they will face either Leinster or Toulouse. While Munster now look towards their next game with Connacht as they look to pip Glasgow to top spot in Conference A of the Pro 14.
Player Ratings:
Saracens = Alex Goode (7), David Strettle (7), Alex Lozowski (6), Brad Barritt (6), Liam Williams (7), Owen Farrell (9), Ben Spencer (8); Mako Vunipola (7), Jamie George (7), Titi Lamositele (8), Maro Itoje (8), George Kruis (7), Michael Rhodes (8), Jackson Wray (7), Billy Vunipola (7)
Replacements (7)
Munster = Mike Haley (6), Andrew Conway (6), Chris Farrell (6), Niall Scannell (7), Darren Sweetnam (7), Tyler Bleyendaal (6), Conor Murray (7); Dave Kilcoyne (7), Niall Scannell (6), John Ryan (5), Jean Kleyn (7), Tadhg Beirne (6), Peter O’Mahony (6), Jack O’Donoghue (6), CJ Stander (8)
Replacements (6)
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Munster Rugby can confirm the full list of players who will depart the province at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
It was confirmed earlier this season that Malakai Fekitoa (Benetton) and Ben Healy (Edinburgh) will join new clubs ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Additionally, we can confirm that Liam O’Connor, Eoin O’Connor, Paddy Kelly, Oli Morris and Academy player Conor Phillips have completed their time at the province.
Eoin O’Connor will move abroad for a new playing opportunity.
Liam O’Connor has been advised to retire on medical grounds following successful surgery for a recent neck injury.
Paddy Kelly has retired from professional rugby on medical grounds due to a concussion sustained earlier in the season.
Paddy has received specialist medical care since the concussion, and despite all efforts, the decision to retire was made in the best interests of his long-term health.
Prop Liam O’Connor made 34 Munster appearances since his debut against Stade Francais in the Champions Cup in January 2016.
A product of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy and former CBC student, O’Connor won the British & Irish Cup with Munster A in 2017.
He made 11 appearances in the first 12 games of the 2017/18 campaign but sustained a long-term knee injury against Ospreys in December 2017.
The Cork Constitution clubman helped Munster to a memorable victory over South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this season.
Eoin O’Connor came up through the Academy and was one of 12 players to make their senior Munster debuts in the Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
The former Waterpark RFC man moved up to the senior squad ahead of the 2022/23 season and made four senior appearances for Munster.
He has featured extensively for Young Munster in the AIL over the past number of years.
A former St Munchin’s College student, lock Paddy Kelly departs after one year as part of the senior squad having come through the Academy.
Centre Oli Morris departs after joining Munster in October when Worcester Warriors went into administration.
Winger Phillips departs after three years in the Academy that included two senior appearances. A former Crescent College student, he is also an Ireland 7s international and plays his club rugby with Young Munster.
Chris Farrell, James French and Dan Goggin all departed for new playing opportunities earlier this season.
A big thanks to all of our departing players for their contributions to Munster Rugby and we wish them all the best for the future.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of the 2023 Heineken Champions Cup Final against La Rochelle on Saturday in Aviva Stadium. (KO: 4.45pm – live on RTÉ2, BT Sport 2, RTÉ Radio 1 and Newstalk).
Cian Healy came through the game at the weekend with no issues after his recovery from an ankle injury.
Rónan Kelleher came through the game at the weekend with no issues after his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Robbie Henshaw came through the game at the weekend with no issues after recovering from a quad issue.
James Lowe was part of the extended match day squad at the weekend and will train as normal this week.
Scott Penny has come through the Graduated Return to Play Protocols and will be available for selection this week.
Will Connors has entered the Graduated Return to Play Protocols and will be unavailable for selection this week.
There are no further updates on:
Vakhtang Abdaladze (neck), Ed Byrne (tricep), Rhys Ruddock (hamstring), Johnny Sexton (groin), Jamie Osborne (knee), Martin Moloney (knee)
Images & Content from Leinster Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm the signing of centre Sean O’Brien on a two-year deal ahead of the 2023/24 season.
From Westmeath, the centre has been playing with the Premiership’s Exeter Chiefs for the past two seasons and most recently started in the club’s Champions Cup round of 16 and quarter-final games.
The 24-year-old has previously played for Connacht and lined out for the Ireland U20s in 2018 with current Munster players Diarmuid Barron, Jack Daly and Jack O’Sullivan.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
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