European Professional Club Rugby | Flashback: Toulouse and Munster kings of suspense
Whereas the groups of the Champions Cup 2022/2023 are now known, we will come back to previous European meetings between teams that will face each other in the new next season. The clash between Stade Toulousain and Munster Rugby, future opponents in Pool B, is at the heart of our focus for the day.
Group stage 1996/1997: Stade Toulousain 60 Munster Rugby 19
The two European heavyweights launched their series of titanic fights with a first meeting in the group stage of the 1996/1997 edition. And the Rouge et Noir outclassed the Irish province by scoring no less than nine tries in their den of Ernest-Wallon. Michel Marfaing signed a triple in favor of Toulouse, while Emile Ntamack and Christian Califano scored twice. Stéphane Ougier and David Berty completed the attacking recital of the Haut-Garonne formation. Meanwhile, David Corkery scored a consolation try for Munster.
Semi-finals 1999/2000: Stade Toulousain 25 Munster Rugby 31
Munster avenged that heavy defeat three years later in a monumental clash in the semi-finals. The Red Army got the better of Toulouse, however favorites of the meeting, on the lawn of the Stade Chaban-Delmas, thanks to the tries of Ronan O’Gara, Jason Holland and John Hayes. Author of a try at the very end of the match, Jérôme Cazalbou made it possible to reduce the gap to the score while Michel Marfaing signed five penalties. But Munster’s supremacy was indisputable.
Semi-finals 2002/2003: Stade Toulousain 13 Munster Rugby 12
Three years later, the two teams met again in the semi-finals. And Toulouse beat the Irish province, at the Municipal Stadium, thanks to Frédéric Michalak’s decisive try. Author of two penalties and two drops, Ronan O’Gara allowed Munster to lead 12-6 five minutes from the final whistle. But the Rouge et Noir, who had scored two penalties through Yann Delaigue and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, found the mental resources to clear the Red Army goal line, Elissalde keeping his composure to register victory transformation.
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Final 2007/2008: Munster Rugby 16 Stade Toulousain 13
The two opponents met again in the final, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. A meeting at the end of which the Irish province won the second European crown in its history. The 11 points at the foot of Ronan O’Gara, and the test of Denis Leamy, sealed the victory of Munster. Toulouse narrowly failed despite Yves Donguy’s try and the eight points at the foot of Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.
Quarter-finals 2013/2014: Munster Rugby 47 Stade Toulousain 23
The scenario was without unique six years later. Munster was indeed unleashed offensively with six tries scored at Thomond Park to reach the semi-finals. Keith Earls scored Ireland’s first try after just four minutes before being followed by Dave Kilcoyne, CJ Stander, Casey Laulala, Simon Zebo and Paul O’Connell. For his part, Munster striker Ian Keatley signed 17 points. Toulouse could only score two tries in the second half, thanks to Hosea Gear and Joe Tekori.
Quarter-finals 2016/2017: Munster Rugby 41 Stade Toulousain 16
Munster performed a new demonstration in 2017 to clinch a twelfth European Cup semi-final. Essays by John Ryan, CJ Stander, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway brought the Red Army to his backyard in Thomond Park. Author of 21 points, Tyler Bleyendaal also proved invaluable in keeping Toulouse at bay. Jean-Marc Doussain’s three penalties in the first half, and Paul Perez’s try after the break, offered the Rouge et Noir little consolation.
Round of 16 2020/2021: Munster Rugby 33 Stade Toulousain 40
Thanks to the double from scrum-half Antoine Dupont and the 20 points at the foot of opener Romain Ntamack, the Toulouse team won at the end of the suspense at Thomond Park. The Munster however led at the break after thee double of Keith Earls. And if Gavin Coombes also crossed the Stade Toulousain goal line twice in the second half, tries from Matthis Lebel and Julien Marchand gave the Haut-Garonne an epic success.
Quarter-finals 2021-22: Munster Rugby 24 Stade Toulousain 24 (Toulouse wins 4-2 on kicks)
Perhaps the most heated encounter between these two European giants took place last season. Toulouse emerged victorious from a spectacular match which was finally decided after a thrilling penalty shootout. Tied after 100 minutes of play at Aviva Stadium, with tries signed Alex Kendellen, Keith Earls and Mike Haley for Munster, and Romain Ntamack and Matthis Lebel (2) for Toulouse, the two teams therefore switched to the session maize shooting, for only the second time in the history of the competition. Missed kicks from Ben Healy and Conor Murray however doomed Munster’s hopes while the Rouge et Noir were able to count on the precision of Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont (2) and Romain Ntamack.