by Munster 23 Northampton Saints 26
At half-time, this was a game that Northampton Saints had no right to win. This was Páirc Tuoman, a rarely contested venue, with the Saints trailing by eight men after being reduced to 14 men after Curtis Langdon was sent off. Munster, eight points ahead at the break, had to win to secure a home last-16 place in the Champions Cup, a feat which Northampton had already achieved before coming to Limerick.
What followed was one of the Saints’ most impressive 40-minute displays – in a season full of them – to claim one of Europe’s biggest victories. It didn’t matter that it was virtual dead rubber; Northampton arrived at Thumper Park drenched in the horizontal rain of the new Storm Isha, and proved that the craftsman was next to the art, twice turning back 10-point deficits in the second half. Munster took the bonus point that ensured last-16 progress – away from their stronghold at Tuman Park – but this night belonged to Northampton.
The Saints sit top of the Premiership table and, after this famous night in Limerick, why shouldn’t they be considered among the frontrunners in this competition too? Seven of the starting XV were named in England’s Six Nations squad this week and Steve Borthwick will be delighted with their displays, particularly that of fly half Fin Smith, whose game management in the second half was impeccable, hitting a brilliant 45 metres. a goal involving tactical magic and a spot kick (see video below).
In the first half, Smith was also central to all Saints’ stylish attacks. With all the talk of his namesake, Marcus, when Fin Smith is making such a difference, the Saint has as good a chance of starting at half-back for England in Rome.
“A 30-minute masterclass from Fin,” said Northampton captain George Furbank. “But we never felt like we were out. We talked about not closing the shop completely.”
“The win is right there in the tour,” said Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby. “We talked about the number of teams that have won here and the challenge. To come to one of the best places to play in Europe, go down to 14 men and find a way to win, speaks volumes for the group.”
Furbank himself continued to show the kind of composure that will be required if he is to wrest the England full-back jersey away from Freddie Steward; Ollie Sleightholme (not included in Borthwick’s squad, but on the radar) and Tommy Freeman outside him are fantastic at times and Fraser Dingwall is on his nose to pass. Up front, Alex Coles and Tom Pearson were busy and, in more sober news for Borthwick, Courtney Lawes was in the second half for the Gods alongside cameo star Sam Graham who scored the winning score.
Another Anglo-Irish clash and another red card for the Premiership team. When Bristol’s Josh Caulfield was sent off on Friday night for an accidental kick-off contact with Connacht’s Finn Belham, Northampton’s half-time hook Curtis Langdon suffered the same fate with a knee to Munster green-head Tom Ahern ( see video below).
Caulfield’s sentence, given the mitigation, was particularly severe in Galway but Langdon appeared to be more guilty in Limerick. It would be impossible to determine whether the act of the ogre was deliberate but it was certainly more reckless than Caulfield’s. Ahern had to be wheeled off the field in a medical vehicle but, thankfully, the stretcher was not needed.
He was the only English regular of Northampton to earn their head. Alex Mitchell left Rory Scannell and then Calvin Nash for dead before coming to score. Northampton more than deserved it after a punchy opening.
Despite their efforts in difficult conditions, Northampton’s early start would not last. Jack Crowley kicked three points before flyhalf Antoine Frisch strolled over.
With Furbank in the bin for a goal, Langdon headed over to leave Northampton with 13 but Munster would cross again before the half was out. Shane Daly played a lovely pass to Nash who was fed by Peter O’Mahony, with the blinder riding on Freeman’s challenge to score.
Smith added two more penalties after half-time before that brilliant goal, and Munster were worried. Three more points from the start of Crowley settled some nerves, but Smith reduced the deficit again after a meaty Saint scrum.
With the clock ticking down, Graham’s scintillating effort gave Northampton 14 players the lead – and a great win to boot.
Data matching
Scores: 0-5 Mitchell try, 0-7 Smith con, 3-7 Crowley pen, 8-7 Frisch try, 10-7 Crowley con, 15-7 O’Mahony try, 15-10 Smith pen, 20-10 Coombes try, 20-13 Smith pen, 20-16 goalie Smith, 23-16 Crowley pen, 23-19 Smith pen, 23-24 Graham try, 23-26 Smith con.
H.T.: 15-7.
Munster: S Zebo; C Nash, A Frisch, A Nankivell, S Daly; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, N Scannell, O Jager, T Ahern, T Beirne (c), P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Replacements: E Clarke, J Wycherley, J Ryan, B Gleeson, A Kendellen, C Murray, J Carbery, S O’Brien.
Northampton: G Furbank (c); T Freeman, F Dingwall, R Hutchinson, O Sleightholme; F Smith, A Mitchell; A Waller, C Langdon, T Davison, T Mayanavanua, A Coles, C Lawes, T Pearson, J Augustus.
Replacements: R Smith, E Iyogun, E Millar-Mills, A Moon, S Graham, T James, B Odendaal, C Savala.
yellow card: 37 Furbank.
red card: Langdon 39.
Referee: T Trainini.
Attendance: 24,620.
