Munster’s Champions Cup adventure came to a disappointing end on Saturday as they fell to a dominant Bordeaux-Bègles side in the quarter-finals at Stade Chaban-Delmas. The French outfit showcased their attacking prowess, scoring four tries in a blistering first half that left Munster scrambling to keep pace. Despite a spirited fightback in the second half, the Irish province ultimately succumbed to a 47-29 defeat.
From the outset, Bordeaux made their intentions clear. In just the 6th minute, a perfectly placed grubber kick from Matthieu Jalibert found the hands of Damian Penaud, who dived over the line to score, marking his record-breaking 12th try of the Champions Cup season. Munster responded quickly with a penalty from Jack Crowley in the 9th minute, but Jalibert matched him moments later, restoring Bordeaux's lead.
The home side struck again in the 13th minute when a misfired Munster lineout allowed Maxime Lucu to capitalize, scoring after a chaotic sequence that had Munster on the back foot. As the first half unfolded, Bordeaux’s relentless attack continued to overwhelm Munster, with Pete Samu adding another try in the 24th minute.
Despite a brief reprieve when Tadhg Beirne executed a turnover on their own line in the 21st minute, Munster’s defensive lapses proved costly. The French side scored again in the 34th minute through Jon Echegaray, leaving Munster trailing 29-3 just before halftime. However, the Irish side managed to salvage some pride just before the break, with Alex Nankivell crashing over for a try, making it 29-10 at halftime.
Following the break, Munster started to find their rhythm, with Andrew Smith scoring a try in the 51st minute to narrow the gap to 29-15. Yet, Bordeaux quickly responded, with Jalibert converting a penalty to push the score to 32-15. The match took a further turn for Munster when Tom Ahern was yellow-carded in the 55th minute, allowing Bordeaux to increase their lead with a try from Maxime Lamothe shortly after.
As the game progressed, Munster’s discipline faltered, leading to more yellow cards. Alex Kendellen received a yellow in the 66th minute, and shortly thereafter, Bordeaux was awarded a penalty try after Echegaray was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on. This put Munster further behind at 40-22.
Despite the mounting challenges, Munster showed resilience. Smith scored his second try in the 73rd minute, courtesy of a clever kick-through from Crowley, bringing the score to 40-29. However, any hopes of a miraculous comeback were dashed when Louis Bielle-Biarrey sealed the win for Bordeaux with a late try in the 77th minute, converting the final score to 47-29.
Throughout the match, Munster struggled with fundamental errors, particularly at the lineout, where they lost nine throws due to steals and inaccurate deliveries. This set-piece malfunction proved detrimental in their quest for victory. The team’s overall performance was marred by a lack of concentration and defensive lapses, especially during the first half.
Post-match, Munster’s head coach Graham Rowntree expressed disappointment at the team’s inability to execute their game plan effectively. “We had a solid start, but we let ourselves down in crucial moments, especially in the first half. Bordeaux capitalized on our mistakes, and we couldn’t recover,” he said.
Despite the loss, there were standout performances from players like Andrew Smith, who scored two tries, and Jack Crowley, who contributed significantly with his kicking. However, the overall team effort fell short against a well-drilled Bordeaux side that demonstrated their championship credentials.
Bordeaux’s victory propels them into the semi-finals, where they will face either Toulon or Toulouse. As for Munster, their European dream ends in familiar frustration, but they can take solace in their fighting spirit and the potential for growth as they regroup for the next season.
