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Quiz: How well do you remember Munster's European Cup semi-finals?

The southern province are almost a constant presence in the final four.

MUNSTER DEFINE THEMSELVES by how they perform in Europe.

And European Rugby was made all the richer for the marches of the Red Army to England’s heartlands, every corner of France and, technically, into Spain too.

Though they were not the first Irish side to claim European glory and their trophy haul was eclipsed by Leinster, their presence in the latter stages of the Heineken or Champions Cup has been remarkably consistent if not quite constant.

Since 2000, Munster have advanced to the semi-final stages 14 times.  Unfortunately, half of those visits have come since they last lifted the trophy in 2008, but how much do you remember of the good times, the agonising moments and ecstatic culminations?

We warned you there might be some pain involved, but can you name the last team Munster defeated in a European Cup semi-final?
Leinster
Toulouse

Saracens
Biarritz
Which of these clubs has not been treated to all the fervour that goes with facing Munster in a European Cup semi-final?
Clermont Auvergne
Leicester Tigers

Biarritz
Wasps
Munster announced their European credentials with an exhilarating attacking display to beat Toulouse in 2000, which of these forwards crossed for a try?
David Wallace
John Hayes

Keith Wood
Peter Clohessy
A paroxide-flecked Stade Francais side shaded Munster in 2001. Which player had a try controversially disallowed despite the TV replays in his favour?
Anthony Horgan
John O'Neill

Dominic Crotty
Dion O'Cuinneagain
Can you name the captain of the Castres side that Munster pipped in 2002?
Gregor Townsend
Raphael Ibanez

Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe
Ugo Mola
Round 2 with Toulouse, whose try tilted the balance for the star-studded French side in 2003?
Jean Baptiste Ellisalde
Freddie Michalak

Clement Poitrenaud
Yannick Jauzion
Happier times: Who cantered in to round off a thumping 6-30 win over Leinster on Lansdowne Road in 2006?
Donncha O'Callaghan
Rob Henderson

Trevor Halstead
Freddie Pucciariello
Ronan O'Gara kicked Munster's only points in the 2009 inter-pro semi-final. Take a stab at guessing how many points he contributed across his 10 semi-final appearances
90
102

115
125
Name the man in the mask who helped oust Munster at the penultimate hurdle in 2010.
Dimitri Yachvili
Imanol Harinordoquy

Jerome Thion
Ian Balshaw
O'Gara's final game for Munster came in the 2013 semi-final against Clermont. Who scored Munster's only try in the narrow defeat?
Simon Zebo
Denis Hurley

James Downey
Casey Laulala
Who is this hero flying to block a late Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal attempt in 2014?
CJ Stander
James Downey

James Coughlan
Sean Dougall
Which key man was sorely missed when Saracens took on Munster in Dublin in 2017?
Donnacha Ryan
Peter O'Mahony

Simon Zebo
Conor Murray
How would you describe this 2019 pitch invader's footwear?
Agricultural
Building site chic

Kind of a dressy flip-flop number
Boaty McBoatshoe
In 2004, Munster and Wasps played out the most brutal and brilliant semi-final of them all. Whose late try settled the epic?
Tom Voyce
Mark van Gisbergen

Rob Howley
Trevor Leota
Answer all the questions to see your result!
You scored out of !
Cruising into the final
You've one hand on the trophy after that emphatic performance.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
A close-fought affair, but you're through to the final
You proved you belong at this level, but there's plenty to improve on before the final.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
A bruising tussle and you just couldn't keep the intensity up to the last
There's no shame in losing an epic quiz like that.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You emptied the tank just to get this far.
Maybe next year.
Share your result:

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17 Comments
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    Mute gerrygag
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    Mar 19th 2023, 9:35 AM

    Excellent analysis of all the pieces of the jigsaw of moves leading to great tries

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    Mute Kenneth O Connor
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    Mar 19th 2023, 9:41 AM

    Great analysis as always. What an atmosphere yesterday. Delighted for Sexton and Healy!!! What a Six Nations send off

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    Mute Noel Lynn
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    Mar 19th 2023, 10:47 AM

    @Kenneth O Connor: Healy not getting a run was disappointing and strange

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    Mute Gary
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    Mar 19th 2023, 11:06 AM

    @Noel Lynn: He did… only about 4 minutes but he did play.

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    Mute Gary Donlan
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    Mar 19th 2023, 9:54 AM

    Yesterday(and last week) should put to bed any doubt about Conan’s value. Every bit as effective as Doris imo.

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Mar 19th 2023, 11:10 AM

    @Gary Donlan: doris level ahead

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    Mute Bill Smith
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    Mar 19th 2023, 1:23 PM

    @Gary Donlan: I’m a big, big fan of Conan – he’s an outstanding player – but I’d have to acknowledge that Doris is at the very top of the global tree. And he has so much more to grow, being so young. Arguably a future World Player of the Year nominee, if not winner.

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    Mute Cian O'Toole
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    Mar 19th 2023, 11:04 AM

    I see lots of people saying how England really used line speed yesterday to get in Irelands face, that’s not what happened at all. England played a soft drift defence, not putting too much pressure on the first carrier / passer, and not committing too many men to the breakdown, opting to be more disruptive and messy rather than look for turnovers. It was an interesting tactic and one that threw a lot of the Irish players off, particularly Furlong who takes the first pivot option quite often. Ireland will need to learn how to adapt to it by World Cup, I can’t imagine South Africa or France would try it, they would trust their line speed, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Scotland or even New Zealand thought about using it.

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    Mute Noel Lynn
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    Mar 19th 2023, 10:22 AM

    Great analysis there. It shows really how intelligent this group are. Dorris, JVF,, Aki, Sexton, Hansen running subplots and dummies lines and how they build a try 3 phases out. To have so many on the same page is extraordinary and as Farrell said, they will get a lot better over the next few months with more time collectively in camp.
    Roll on the WC

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    Mute Eamon Holly
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    Mar 19th 2023, 10:32 AM

    It was squeaky bum time for much of the game. England gave it everything. Ireland found a way to win. Work done with decoy runners is magnificent. Enjoy, upwards and onwards to France

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Mar 19th 2023, 4:25 PM

    That was some offload by Conan for sheehans try.

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Mar 19th 2023, 1:53 PM

    Sheehan is a pure speed merchant

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Mar 19th 2023, 11:33 PM

    @Gary Galligan: He’s a 4×4 at full speed.

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    Mute Padraig Fallon
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    Mar 19th 2023, 12:11 PM

    On the strike plays which Ireland use we have seen a few of these in this 6 nations I believe they have only used a small number of these in this 6 nations and there are many more which they had no need to use and they are been reserved for the later stages of the world Cup.

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    Mute Pud
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    Mar 19th 2023, 12:11 PM

    I would imagine when Farrell and his team review this game they will be a little concerned. Obviously the short term gain here, winning a grand slam, is brilliant. But there was a lot of pressure going into the game and we did not handle it well. Ultimately a red card may have won it for Ireland and whether you agree or disagree with the card the nature of it shows it can how easily happen under current rules. (There was at least 1 red card possibility for us that was missed by the ref and TMO). This team will ultimately be judged on how it performs in the World Cup. When they meet Scotland on the 7th of October it will more than likely be a knock out game. The pressure on them will easily be as intense as yesterday, probably more so. They will need to be a lot better. If we don’t make it out of the group, this Grand Slam will lose a lot of it’s shine. Of course hopefully by the time we meet Scotland SA will have 2 losses so it won’t matter :)

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    Mute Bill Smith
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    Mar 19th 2023, 1:35 PM

    @Pud: OTOH, the experience of yesterday, a real pressure cooker, will stand to them. Plus, those guys played a lot of intense rugby over a short period of time. Some were definitely not at their best, following injuries (Furlong, for example, looked rusty; Henshaw wasn’t fully up to speed; Ringrose in and out). Farrell took some risks, playing guys like Porter, VDF, Keenan, Hansen and others to their limits (Keenan looked tired yesterday, as did others). The player management plan for the RWC needs to cater for the interactive effects of physical endurance and how it affects mental/emotional resilience. I’m pretty confident they’re on top of that. And again, all the players will be better for the experience of this 6N.

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    Mute Seamus Kelly
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    Mar 19th 2023, 9:11 PM

    @Pud: South Africa then Scotland…followed by France or New Zealand…three massive banana skins….I don’t think if we are stopped before semi final, yesterday’s outstanding achievement will be diminished….cruel world cup draw.

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    Mute Name can be blank
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    Mar 19th 2023, 3:16 PM

    Herring sealed victory over the All Blacks with a similar try in the third test .. hooker is definitely a position we don’t need to worry about… bench again made the difference yesterday

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Mar 19th 2023, 11:29 PM

    Murray Kinsella, single handedly helping other teams work out Ireland!!

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