1
Watch: Munster and Toulouse's epic penalty shootout in Dublin
By Ian Cameron
Munster and Toulouse faced off in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout that decided their Heineken Champions Cup quarter final today in the most dramatic of fashions.
Toulouse advanced to the last four of the competition after the shootout victory over the Irish at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, in what was one of the most memorably conclusions to European match in some time.
France star Antoine Dupont scored twice for Toulouse, including a key strike from the 10-metre line, with Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack also on target.
Conor Murray and Joey Carbery had successful penalties, but two misses from Ben Healy and a single Murray miss ended Munster’s campaign.
Toulouse will now face will Leinster in the same venue in next week’s semi-finals.
“Today was what Munster rugby is about," said Munster head coach Johan van Graan after the game. "To lose it like that, that is unfortunately sport, that is the way the rules are. Somebody has got to kick it over and somebody has got to miss. If ever there is a day that sums up Munster rugby it’s today, a community, 40,000 people travelling. It was certainly one of the best rugby games I have been involved with.
“I said to my wife there, from a feeling point of view this was like the World Cup semi-final in 2015 that we lost 20-18 against the All Blacks, that feeling that you gave it all you have got, the players gave it all they have got."
He paid tribute to the team who have once again fallen short in Europe but who can certainly hold their head up high after bowing out in the closest of matches against arguably the best team in the tournament.
“Management, staff and then the people of Munster, they gave it all they have got. And then you have got to know this is a game and everybody associated with Munster rugby will be incredibly proud of 23 guys that stood up and fought today.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
Go to comments