RED LETTER DAY
Magnificent Munster blitz four-time European champions at Thomond
JOHN RYAN led four-try Munster to victory as they blitzed Toulouse to reach a first European Cup semi-final since 2014.
Without Conor Murray from the start, Munster rarely looked in trouble thanks to Ryan’s early try, while another three in the second-half from CJ Stander, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway wrapped up the win.
A rocking Thomond Park celebrated the victory and the semi-final spot against either Glasgow Warriors or Saracens.
Toulouse No 8 Francois Cros was sent to the sin bin after a minute and a half after when he lead with his elbow into the chest of Duncan Williams, who was outstanding in the No.9 shirt.
And with the four-time champions pinned in their own 22, Munster struck for the first time. A second Munster maul was stopped by a powerful shove, but after Jaco Taute came close to crossing, Ryan was next up and he barged over.
Tyler Bleyendaal added the simple conversion for a 7-0 lead, and he was successful again in the tenth minute when Toulouse infringed at a mault.
With Cros back in the fold Toulouse found their feet and Jean Marc Doussain soon got them off the mark following a Peter O’mahony high tackle after 20 minutes.
Joe Tekori infringed in the same manner on Dave Kilcoyne seven minutes later and Bleyendaal made it 13-3, but the rest of the half belonged to the French side.
Doussain’s chip through almost allowed Gael Fickou to score after 30 minutes, but Simon Zebo got back, but two penalties before half time made it 13-9.
Three minutes after the restart Bleyendaal stretched their lead to seven points again, before Stander barged over for the second try.
Bleyendaal missed the conversion but drilled over a penalty in the 54th minute as Munster’s lead was 24-9.
Toulouse did rally once more and when Paul Perez dotted down in the left corner and Doussain added the extras the lead was just eight.
But in the closing stages Munster finished with style as Sweetnam and Conway tries added gloss to the win.