IT’S BEEN A DAY of mixed fortunes for Ireland’s sides in Heineken Cup action today.
Munster welcomed back Paul O’Connell to full European duty as they hosted the Ospreys at Thomond Park – but had the returning Second Row forward sent off just ten minutes into his first European fixture of the season.
Having replaced Mick O’Driscoll with twenty minutes left on the clock, O’Connell was shown a straight red with ten remaining after being caught showing his elbow into the face of Jonathan Thomas.
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Munster – who were 22-16 up at the time – managed to close out the match without any further scores, however, and claimed victory thanks to two second-half tries from David Wallace and Johne Murphy, following Dougie Howlett’s opening half effort.
Ronan O’Gara converted two of the three efforts, but Munster could have denied their Welsh visitors their bonus point had he been more reliable from the boot in the first half. Ospreys’ points came from the boot of Dan Biggar, and from a second-half breakaway try from Tommy Bowe.
The visitors went ahead early on through Shane Horgan, while Julien Malzieu equalised at the other end; Sexton and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties to leave the half-time score at 10-10.
Anthony Floch added a second-half try for the hosts, which Parra again converted; the out-halves each added a further penalty, but Parra squandered one chance as the clock wound down to deny the visitors their valuable bonus.
That solitary point keeps Leinster at the summit of Pool 2 on 10 points ahead of the return fixture against the French next week; Clermont sit second, a point behind, with Racing Metro 92 – who defeated Saracens 21-24 away yesterday – a further point adrift. Saracens lie bottom on two.
Munster’s victory also keeps them at the top of their own Pool 3 ahead of next week’s trip to Wales, also on 10. They stand two clear of Toulon, who won away 19-13 at London Irish, who prop up the table on on five points, behind the Welsh on six.
Mixed fortunes for Irish sides in Heineken Cup
IT’S BEEN A DAY of mixed fortunes for Ireland’s sides in Heineken Cup action today.
Munster welcomed back Paul O’Connell to full European duty as they hosted the Ospreys at Thomond Park – but had the returning Second Row forward sent off just ten minutes into his first European fixture of the season.
Having replaced Mick O’Driscoll with twenty minutes left on the clock, O’Connell was shown a straight red with ten remaining after being caught showing his elbow into the face of Jonathan Thomas.
Munster – who were 22-16 up at the time – managed to close out the match without any further scores, however, and claimed victory thanks to two second-half tries from David Wallace and Johne Murphy, following Dougie Howlett’s opening half effort.
Ronan O’Gara converted two of the three efforts, but Munster could have denied their Welsh visitors their bonus point had he been more reliable from the boot in the first half. Ospreys’ points came from the boot of Dan Biggar, and from a second-half breakaway try from Tommy Bowe.
Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton had a happier with his place-kicking, however, as Leinster managed to secure a losing bonus point after their 20-13 defeat at Clermont Auvergne.
The visitors went ahead early on through Shane Horgan, while Julien Malzieu equalised at the other end; Sexton and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties to leave the half-time score at 10-10.
Anthony Floch added a second-half try for the hosts, which Parra again converted; the out-halves each added a further penalty, but Parra squandered one chance as the clock wound down to deny the visitors their valuable bonus.
That solitary point keeps Leinster at the summit of Pool 2 on 10 points ahead of the return fixture against the French next week; Clermont sit second, a point behind, with Racing Metro 92 – who defeated Saracens 21-24 away yesterday – a further point adrift. Saracens lie bottom on two.
Munster’s victory also keeps them at the top of their own Pool 3 ahead of next week’s trip to Wales, also on 10. They stand two clear of Toulon, who won away 19-13 at London Irish, who prop up the table on on five points, behind the Welsh on six.
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European Rugby Champions Cup Dan Biggar David Wallace Johne Murphy Jonathan Sexton Leinster Morgan Parra Munster Ospreys rugby Paul O'Connell Ronan O'Gara Shane Horgan Clermont Tommy Bowe