Tops / Flops Munster-Toulouse: Lebel confirms, the Irish taken at their own game

TOPS

Toulouse brought down the Thomond Park fortress

After two huge slaps received in Limerick in the final phase of the European Cup (47-23 in 2014 and 41-16 in 2017), Stade Toulousain took revenge and brought down the fortress almost breathtaking view of Thomond Park.

In the past, only four teams had come to win on the lawn of the Munstermen.

Three in the group stage of the Champions Cup: Clermont in 2014 and the Leicester Tigers twice.

Only the Northern Irish province of Ulster had won in the final phase in Limerick.

The performance of Toulouse is therefore historic.

A prestigious success achieved by the quadruple winners of the European Cup.

And a strong message sent to all of Europe.

Lebel confirms on the European scene

A talent that Europe will discover.

The Stade Toulousain winger, Matthis Lebel, only 22 years old, confirmed this Saturday at Thomond Park the fine arrangements seen in Top 14. Best scorer in the French championship with 12 tries, the double world champion in the under 20s first scored a try, being at the reception of a diagonal at the foot of Romain Ntamack and resisting the return of his vis-à-vis who wanted to throw him in touch.

Unstoppable.

His second attempt of the season in the Champions Cup.

But, at the end of the match, he was behind the victory scored by Antoine Dupont.

Author of a magnificent framing-overflow, in a tiny space, he shifts his scrum half which only has to flatten.

Impressive.

Nothing to throw away.

Munster also knows how to play

Before facing the Irish province, Ugo Mola and his players described Munster as a team that does not play, which relies almost exclusively on the fundamentals, in short a minimalist game.

A somewhat easy shortcut after all, which corresponds to the 2006-2008 period when Munster won two European titles.

On Saturday, the Munstermen - certainly with ideal playing conditions, far from the downpours and gusts of wind that can beat down on Limerick - did not close the game. In the wake of Damian de Allende, the bulldozer South African world champion, the Irish played offensive rugby, attempted shots and competed with Toulouse in the movement.

But in this little game, difficult to compete with Toulouse ...

FLOPS

Toulouse was (very) badly

started Like Clermont who had missed his start to the match against the Wasps, the Toulouse also experienced a ignition delay which could have cost them dearly in Limerick.

Jostled by the Irish, in difficulty to put their game in place, the players of Ugo Mola nevertheless managed to round back.

Before returning to the locker room, they were quite logically led to the score (16-9).

Fortunately, the Rouge et Noir were able to rectify the situation, gain momentum and sign a victory that will mark a milestone in Ireland.

Murray and Earls are doing well

At the very start of the match, Munster's three-quarter center Chris Farrell received a logical yellow card for having tripped over Pita Ahki (4th).

In the 16th minute of the game, international scrum-half Conor Murray commits a huge foul, deliberately taking himself offside in a ruck and making no effort to clear himself.

Referee Wayne Barnes surely didn't want to overwhelm the Munstermans, but Murray clearly deserved a yellow card for that action.

Simple penalty, three points for Ntamack.

At the end of the game, another Irish international, winger Keith Earls, also committed a gross foul.

Beaten in the air by Chelsin Kolbe, he lets his hand drag (voluntarily?) And knocks down the world champion winger.

Another simple penalty.

The two players of the XV du Trèfle did well in the end ...

Read also

• Champions Cup schedule and results