Conway slices Toulon open to seal semi spot
MUNSTER 20 TOULON 19
Andrew Conway took on the mantle of matchwinner for Munster as his stunning 74th-minute try saw them pip Toulon 20-19 in a titanic European Champions Cup quarterfinal at Thomond Park.
Winger Conway’s decisive score from a kick return, which saw him beat four defenders from near halfway, sent the Irish province through to a record 13th European semi-final and a trip to France to face either Clermont Auvergne or Racing 92.
Replacement Francois Trinh-duc almost inspired a famous Limerick victory for Toulon, kicking two penalties and having a key involvement in Chris Ashton’s converted try as the three-time champions began the final quarter with 13 points in little over seven minutes.
However, Munster – who led 10-6 at half-time thanks to an opportunist Conor Murray try near the halfhour mark – used all of their cup nous to pull off a gritty comeback triumph thanks to Conway’s dazzling effort and Ian Keatley’s all-important conversion.
Toulon’s threat was obvious right from the first minute, fortune favouring Munster as Simon Zebo did just enough to prevent Ashton from scoring off Eric Escande’s dangerous kick.
Peter O’mahony’s lineout steal, coupled with Conway’s vital tackle on Josua Tuisova on the opposite wing, kept the visitors scoreless until Anthony Belleau, a late inclusion at fly-half for Trinh-duc, fired over a wellstruck 10th-minute penalty.
Raphael Lakafia’s hoovering up of Billy Holland’s lineout steal allowed the beefy Toulon pack to get within range for Belleau to score an 18th-minute drop goal for a 6-0 lead.
A strong carry from Jack O’donoghue, led to Murray’s momentum-changing 27th-minute score. Toulon thought they had covered the danger, only for France captain Guilhem Guirado to knock on at a ruck close to his own line and Murray pounced to ground the ball.
Keatley converted and then tagged on a 31st-minute penalty.
In the second period, Munster’s front row reserves came up trumps in winning a scrum penalty which Keatley turned into three points, but Toulon’s own bench proved hugely influential entering the final quarter.
Radradra just lost control of the ball as he stretched for the line, under pressure from Alex Wootton, before Trinh-duc punished Jean Kleyn’s side entry at a maul to cut the gap to 13-9.
It got even better for the travelling support when Mathieu Bastareaud charged through and put the supporting Ashton diving in under the posts. Suddenly, Toulon had a grip on proceedings as Trinh-duc’s pinpoint 48-metre penalty, won by Tuisova, gave them a 19-13 advantage.
However, Conway came to Munster’s rescue, brilliantly weaving his way through the cover to cross close to the posts with Keatley adding the crucial extras.