Jack Crowley's drop goal helps Munster hold on against Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle
Munster's Jack Crowley in action against La Rochelle. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland
A brilliant Munster performance saw them triumph for the first time in a knock-out Champions Cup game on French soil in 23 years as they won by the slenderest of margins on Saturday evening in La Rochelle.
The home side thought they got off to the perfect start when old friend Teddy Thomas ran in under the posts in the first minute only for the try to be chalked off due to the centre putting a foot in touch.
Andrew Smith was sin-binned in the 13th minute which presented Ronan O'Gara's side with the opportunity to attack through a 5m lineout and they capitalised when openside Levani Botha scored to the right of the posts.
Ihaia West was next to be binned after a head-high hit and Munster struck back with a fantastic try instigated by full-back Thaakir Abrahams who brilliantly stepped and broke the defensive line and fed the supporting Craig Casey to score under the posts in the 25th minute.
Right on the half-time whistle out-half West slotted a simple penalty from straight in front of the posts to ensure La Rochelle led 10-7 at the break.
Jack Crowley levelled matters straight after the resumption with a 35m penalty won off the restart.
The resilient Munster defence held up their opponents over the line in the 47th minute and they were rewarded when number eight Gavin Coombes charged down Tawera Kerr-Barlow and dotted down to give Munster the lead for the first time.
Dillyn Leyds was yellow carded in the 51st minute for a deliberate knock on and Munster scored almost immediately through Andrew Smith in the left corner to make it 10-22.
La Rochelle came storming back and the were awarded a penalty try in the 66th minute when Alex Kendellen was adjudged to have collapsed a maul that was rumbling towards the Munster line.
Munster needed a settler and Jack Crowley provided it with a perfectly executed drop goal from 35m on the 70th minute to give Munster an eight-point lead.
Nerves were jingling when an expert dink to the left corner by Antoine Hastoy saw left winger Hoani Bosmorin score in the 77th minute to leave a single point between the teams.
La Rochelle had one last attack to win it but Munster survived the scare to hold out for a famous victory.
I West (1 pen, 1 con), A Hastoy (1 con), L Botia, H Bosmorin (1 try each), penalty try.
J Crowley (1 pen, 2 cons, 1 drop), C Casey, G Coombes, A Smith (1 try each).
D Leyds; J Nowell, T Thomas, UJ Seuteni, H Bosmorin; I West, T Kerr-Barlow; R Wardi, P Bourgarit, U Atonio; T Lavault, W Skelton; L Botia, O Jegou, G Alldritt (c).
J Lespiaucq, J Favre and J Cancoriet for P Bourgarit, U Atonio and J Nowell (48), A Kuntelia for U Atonio and L Botia (51), A Kaddouri and Z Hastoy for UJ Seuteni and R Wardi (55).
T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, S O'Brien, A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, D Barron, O Jager; J Kleyn, T Beirne (capt); P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
J Wycherley for J Loughman (13), S Archer, F Wycherley, T Ahern for O Jager, J Kleyn, P O’Mahony (53), R Scannell for T Abrahams (54), A Kendellen for J Hodnett (57), C Murray for C Casey (66), N Scannell for D Barron (68).
Andrea Piardi (FIR).
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