Investec Challenge Cup
Toulon (7) 27
Tries: Domon, White, Drean Cons: Dormon 3 Pens: Dormon 2
Munster (6) 25
Tries: Nash, O’Donoghue, Farrell Cons: Crowley 2 Pens: Crowley 2
Munster will need a result against Castres at home next weekend to progress in the Champions Cup after falling to a late defeat by Toulon at the Stade Mayol on Sunday.
The sides both managed three tries, and were shown a pair of yellow cards, but Toulon full-back Marius Domon’s penalty with five minutes remaining ultimately was the difference in the 27-25 win.
The hosts had trailed 6-0 in the final minute of the first half but led at the break through a converted Domon try.
Munster fought back to lead 25-24 going into the final minutes after second-half scores from Calvin Nash, Jack O’Donoghue and Tom Farrell but skipper Tadhg Beirne was penalised at the breakdown to give Domon the crucial shot at the posts.
Toulon are third in Pool 2, still behind Bath and Edinburgh, with the Irish province in the fourth and final qualifying place but level on points with Gloucester and just one ahead of Castres before the French side’s visit to Thomond Park on Saturday.
A low-scoring first half between the two sides with five European crowns between them was littered with errors.
The hosts in particular struggled with their handling throughout, although Farrell’s spill forward after Nash’s break saw one early Munster opening wasted.
Toulon wing Gael Drean did well to chase back and down a bouncing ball ahead of Nash to again deny Munster the opening score, while the Top 14 outfit’s own best opportunity of the opening quarter came to nothing when Charles Ollivon spilled a line-out taken quickly by Tomas Albornoz.
Coming in off the back of consecutive Irish derby defeats against Leinster and Ulster, Munster’s breakdown and defensive work in the first half will have placated head coach Clayton McMillan, who has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks, and a pair of Jack Crowley penalties had given them a 6-0 lead going into the half’s final five minutes.
But Toulon, who had warmed up for this one by including 10 academy players for the 66-0 defeat by La Rochelle, stamped their authority on the game either side of the turn.
As Munster’s discipline became strained under increased pressure, Beirne was sent to the sin bin before former England lock David Ribbans had a score chalked off for a double movement.
Pierre Mignoni’s side had to wait until the final minute of the half to take the lead for the first time when Domon was put over by Jeremy Sinzelle and the Toulon full-back converted his own try.
Before Beirne’s return, Toulon continued to make the most of the man advantage during the opening stages of second half with Scottish scrum-half Ben White breaking through the attempted tackle of Michael Ala’alatoa to score just three minutes after the restart.
To Munster’s credit, they responded with a try of their own through Nash almost immediately but, after the visitors were restored to 14, Drean’s excellent chip, chase and gather put Toulon back in control.
Alex Nankivell was next to be sent to the bin, although on this occasion, Munster’s spell with a man disadvantage was considerably shorter with Esteban Abadie joining him on the naughty step just two minutes later.
A first Dormon penalty of the afternoon was the only score with each side down to 14 before two tries in five minutes put Munster ahead once again.
With 13 minutes remaining, Jack O’Donoghue scored after JJ Hanrahan’s cross-kick had been gathered by Shane Daly, before Nankivell put his centre partner Tom Farrell over for the try.
Crowley’s conversion of the latter put Munster 25-24 ahead but the advantage lasted just three minutes with Dormon’s 76th-minute penalty ultimately enough to win the back-and-forth contest.
With the clock 90 seconds in the red, Toulon thought they had a four-try bonus point but referee Karl Dickson adjudged that Albernoz had been held up to end the game and preserve Munster’s own losing bonus point.
Toulon: Domon; Drean, Brex, Sinzelle, Ferte; Albornoz, White; Gros, Baubigny, Sinckler; Ollivon (capt), Ribbans, Ludlam, Abadie, Mercer.
Replacements: Toevalu, Ametlla, Priso, Alainu’uese, Mezou, Coulon, Garbisi, Tuicuvu.
Yellow cards: Abadie, Ollivon.
Munster: Daly; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, O’Connor; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Barron, Ala’alatoa, Edogbo, Wycherley; Beirne (capt), O’Donoghue, Coombes.
Replacements: Scannell, Milne, Ryan, R Quinn, Gleeson, Patterson, Hanrahan, Kelly.
Yellow cards: Beirne, Nankivell.
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
