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The Spherical 4 defeat was extra akin to Graham Rowntree’s aspect’s first two Pool 2 matches towards Bayonne and Exeter as they couldn’t put their numerical benefit following Curtis Langdon’s crimson card to good use.
England hopeful Fin Smith proved their undoing as Northampton topped the pool, condemning Munster to fourth place and an anxious anticipate the ultimate standings tomorrow.
Like their draw towards Bayonne and their defeat in Exeter, the URC champions put themselves in a successful place happening the stretch solely to return asunder within the last quarter.
They’ll lament two missed conversions and a long-range penalty that went astray from Jack Crowley who had sport with ball in hand. None of them have been simple, however they’ll hang-out the Eire outhalf on the finish of a three-point loss.
Maybe it shouldn’t have come all the way down to that.
Twice, Munster led by 10 factors towards a group down a person they usually discovered a approach to lose.
The deathly silence among the many 24,620 attendance at full-time spoke volumes about the way in which the locals felt about limping into the knockouts.
The dropping bonus level sees them by way of, however that’s scant comfort on an evening that began with Crowley’s kick-off going useless resulting from a gale blowing in from the Mayorstone Finish.
Munster’s defence had been massive in Toulon every week beforehand and once more it stood tall early on, with Gavin Coombes successful a breakdown turnover and John Hodnett and Thomas Ahern forcing knock-ons involved.
They couldn’t, nonetheless, set up a foothold within the Saints’ half regardless of some good kicking from Craig Casey they usually paid the worth on 19 minutes after coughing up a scrum penalty.
The guests labored the ball into midfield the place Julius Augustus lined up Crowley and made massive features, earlier than England scrumhalf Alex Mitchell noticed each Munster props on the fringes and danced his approach between them and over for a effective particular person rating.
Smith transformed, however the Saints acquired themselves in a muddle off kick-off and Munster lastly had the platform to launch Alex Nankivell up the center however he spilled the ball involved.
Northampton’s mixture of an aggressive defence and a very good counter-attack was inflicting Munster actual issues they usually acquired a bit fortunate when George Furbank tapped a penalty after Crowley’s cross had gone to floor.
Nonetheless, the outhalf stayed composed and when Jeremy Loughman received a poach penalty on the again of his raking touch-finder he kicked his aspect’s first factors of the night after 32 minutes.
He missed a long-ranger a couple of minutes later, however then used a intelligent Eire play to launch Calvin Nash, who confirmed sharp arms to search out Antoine Frisch who then fed Nankivell and he made massive features.
It got here to nothing, however the referee went again to verify Furbank’s deal with on Nash and despatched him to the sin-bin for a tip.
Niall Scannell tapped the penalty and Munster’s forwards went to work across the fringes earlier than Crowley referred to as for the ball and put Antoine Frisch over.
The outhalf transformed and the sport turned additional in Munster’s favour on the stroke of half-time when Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon was despatched off.
He might need claimed innocence the primary time he kneed Ahern within the head, however then he linked a second time with the second-row inclined on the ground he had no excuse.
Dealing with 13 males, Munster went for the jugular and acquired their reward as the brand new Eire captain Peter O’Mahony crossed within the nook, ending nicely after Shane Daly’s lengthy extensive cross discovered Nash who might need gone himself however as an alternative went extensive to the flanker.
Crowley missed the conversion, however Munster took a 15-7 lead in on the interval.
Regardless of persevering with with a numerical benefit after the break, Munster overchased a ruck and coughed up a penalty that Smith kicked to slender the hole as Simon Zebo limped off and the heavens started to open.
Again got here Munster, with teenage sensation Brian Gleeson rising into the sport as he ran over Augustus and Hodnett adopted up with an enormous surge.
That assault got here to nothing, however a Northampton knock-on allowed the hosts to go once more they usually pressured a penalty, which was tapped shortly because the forwards went to work with a collection of bruising carries earlier than Coombes went over from shut vary.
Crowley was once more off course with the conversion and that saved the Saints in contact as Smith nailed a penalty earlier than nailing a long-range drop-goal to make it a four-point sport.
The outhalves swapped penalties as Munster misplaced O’Mahony to a hip damage and the circumstances acquired worse and worse.
Munster’s perception was ebbing and Courtney Lawes received a breakdown penalty for Smith to kick to the nook.
The Saints went to their maul and alternative Sam Graham peeled off and went over with Smith changing.
Thomond Park was shocked and there was no approach again.
Scorers — Munster: A Frisch, P O’Mahony, G Coombes strive every; J Crowley 2 pens, 1 con. Northampton: A Mitchell, S Graham strive every; F Smith 2 cons, 3 pens, 1 drop-goal.
Munster: S Zebo (S O’Brien 44); C Nash, A Frisch, A Nankivell (J Carbery 77), S Daly; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman (J Wycherley 68), N Scannell (E Clarke 68), O Jager (J Ryan 50); T Ahern (B Gleeson 40), T Beirne (capt); P O’Mahony (A Kendellen 70), J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Northampton Saints: G Furbank (capt); T Freeman, F Dingwall, R Hutchinson (B Odendaal 65), O Sleightholme (R Smith 47); F Smith, A Mitchell; A Waller (E Iyogun 58), C Langdon, T Davison (E Millar Mills 53); T Mayanavanua (A Moon 58), A Coles; C Lawes, T Pearson, J Augustus (S Graham 50).
Referee: T Trainini (France).
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