By Jonatan Stockham
January 22 2012

There can’t have been too many occasions when Saints scored 36 points in a match and still ended up finishing a distant second to the winners.

ERC Heineken Cup – Pool 1

Round 6, 21 January 2012

Stadium:mk

Saints 36, Munster 51

By Jonathan Stockham

The visiting Irish province was too strong, streetwise and savvy for the Saints to match up to. Munster outperformed and out supported Saints. Munster supporters truly put the “fan” in “fanatic” and “The Fields” and “Stand Up” certainly seemed a lot louder than the home crowd’s “Wendy’s.”

I’ll leave others to discuss whether the move to Stadium:mk really worked and the effect that had on the volume and passion of home support. To the game itself and at the end of the day, Munster brought their power game in every area except one.

The scrum was by far Saints most potent weapon and brought a penalty try in each half when Munster repeatedly infringed as they were shoved backwards over their own try line. Unwillingness to even engage at one scrum after the break brought a free kick which then became a penalty and even the addition of Irish cap Marcus Horan to the front row couldn’t save the day as Saints won their second penalty try, Lamb kicking the conversion and both scrum halves trooping off to the sin bin for fighting after the try had been awarded.

At that point, 15 minutes into the second half, Saints were only 26-31 adrift, having weathered a fierce Munster onslaught after half time, when the teams turned round level at 19–19. In an opening reminiscent of the start of the second half of last year’s Cup Final, Munster came out all guns blazing and capitalised on Saints errors and lack of tightness to run in two tries by wingers Murphy and Zebo.

In a recent comment on this board I shouted “RESTARTS” and again that was part of Saint’s undoing yesterday.  A lack of organisation amongst Saints catchers, who were often left exposed, put self-inflicted pressure on the home team in comparison to Munster, who had plenty of large forwards littering the landing zone to obstruct the chasers and were only once penalised for a very obvious block.

Saints managed to keep hope (and the 5 point margin) alive as Ryan Lamb and Ronan O’Gara exchanged penalties although the Munster fly half widened the gap with another successful penalty kick with 13 minutes to go.  

But then the final nails were inserted into Saint’s coffin lid as Munster let rip with two more tries by Zebo in five minutes, both converted. The scoreboard read 29-51 now with only 3 minutes left and no way back for Saints although the final score was made a little more acceptable by a superbly taken try by sub Scott Armstrong who arced through a chink in Munster’s otherwise superb defence to touch down. 

Steve Myler, on for the last 8 minutes, added the extras as the stadium clock read 80.00.

We saw a great and compelling game of rugby, won by the better side who ran at pace in the backs, both midfield and out wide, and with power and speed amongst the back five. The breakdown was not a productive area for Saints and the error count and poor management of restart kicks was disappointing. Munster harried Saints into mistakes and unsettled the defence that was so strong last week against Scarlets. Several Northampton players missed tackles and the video analysis won’t look so good this week.

Well done Munster and their fans and thanks to both sides for a classic match.

For Saints, the European dream this season is definitely over and we will have other trophies to aim for now.

Teams:

Northampton Saints:  

B Foden; J Elliott (S Armstrong 69), G Pisi, J Downey, V Artemyev; R Lamb (S Myler, 72), L Dickson (M Roberts, 73); S Tonga'uiha (A Waller 67), D Hartley, B Mujati (P Doran Jones 65); S Manoa, M Sorenson (C Day 62); C Clark (B Nutley 62), P Dowson, R Wilson.

Munster:

D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara (I Keatley 75), C Murray (T O'Leary 67); W du Preez (M Horan 55), D Varley (D Fogarty 75), BJ Botha (S Archer 75);Donncha O'Callaghan (M O'Driscoll 72), P O'Connell; D Ryan, P O'Mahony (Dave O'Callaghan 72), J Coughlan.

Referee: R Poite (France)

Mark Sorenson's view of the match 

News: Munster Monster Machine Mauls Saints at Milton Keynes.

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 22/01/2012 14:30

ComeOnYouSaints.com
22/01/2012 14:30

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
22/01/2012 14:42

well done - hurts doesn't it

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

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Bob Stainsby
22/01/2012 17:02

Yes well done Cap'n if only for the headline . And yes St Rich it does bleddy hurt like my head! But well played Monster

Fine report sir Stockers.

Top of the League 2014-2015 Season

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oddshapedballs
23/01/2012 01:01

Thank you, Stockers. Thank you.

[lowrence.com]

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OldPete
23/01/2012 12:08

not an easy one Stockers so thanks and well done.

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Wee Jim
23/01/2012 12:30

Good report and thanks! Spot on regarding restarts.

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