European Dreams End
Both Connacht and Munster’s dreams of winning European silverware this season have ended. A last-try from Trevor Leoata gave Wasps the edge in Landsdowne Road, while Connacht went out of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup in Galway despite winning the match.
The first match to take place was Harlequins trip to Galway. Harlequins were ahead by nine points on aggregate when the match kicked off. Connacht managed at one point to get 13 points clear of Harlequins leaving Harlequins with it all to do. England centre Will Greenwood duely obliged scoring 12 minutes from the end and gifting his side a place in the final. Connacht did throw everything they had at Harlequins right until the death, but a late Paul Burke penalty saw his side lose 23 points to 18, handing them the aggregate victory of 49 points to 45.
Then all eyes turned to Landsdowne Road where over 40,000 Munster fans had showed up to hopefully cheer their side on to the European Cup final. The match started at a frenetic pace with both sides giving it their all, but it was Munster who managed to get the first points on the board with Ronan O’Gara slotting over the first penalty after two minutes. Munster’s advantage didn’t last long however with Wasps’ Josh Lewsey soon powering over in the corner, for a try that was converted by Wasps’ out-half Alex King. O’Gara converted two more tries with King responding with one more, but after 33 minutes O’Gara had to limp off the field with a hamstring injury. Jason Holland came on in the place of O’Gara and immediately slotted over a penalty giving Munster a 12-10 lead. But Holland went from hero to zero almost immediately with an attempted clearance kick being charged down by Rob Howley setting up Paul Volley for a try. This gave Wasps a 15 points to 12 lead at the interval.
It looked bad for Munster when straight after half time Wasps scored in the corner, giving them a commanding lead. Munster didn’t sit back however with a stirring fight back resulting in two quick tries and Holland slotting over a couple of penalties to give Munster a ten point lead. With Wasps trailing, it looked over but they showed their class by refusing to buckle. King slotted over a penalty to cut their deficit to 7 points, in injury time, and with Munster looking ragged Wasps managed to score again, this time under the posts bringing the scores level. Then at the death Wasps hooker Tony Leota went over in the corner to seal the victory.
Munster fans will be absolutely gutted with this making it five times in a row their team has lost out in either the semi-final or final of the European Cup, and yet again they lose out by the narrowest of margins.