EUROPEAN HOPES CRASH: Harlequins 12 - 18 Munster

Harlequins’ hopes of further progress in the Heineken Cup were snuffed out by the power and determination of Munster in a tense defensive struggle by six penalties kicked by Ronan O’Gara to four kicked by Nick Evans.

From the early minutes it became clear that this was to be a game of fine margins and enormous physicality and that the referee’s view of scrum and breakdown would have considerable influence on the result.  Monye rose high to claim the ball from Evans’ kick off and a fine kick through from Casson was chased by Lowe.  What appeared to be a deliberate Munster hand knocking the ball into touch did not draw the penalty that might have followed.  O’Connell stole the ball from the lineout and O’Gara cleared.  A penalty to Quins at a scrum gave Evans the opportunity to open the scoring with a clean kick through the posts.  When Munster had a penalty, from an offence at a breakdown following the restart, O’Gara’s kick struck the post and rebounded.

Another penalty at a scrum produced Evans’ only missed kick of the afternoon but h remedied that soon after as Quins’ lead extended to 6 – 0.  But now Munster were beginning to dominate the territorial battle and Harlequins were unable to mount their usual off-loading, attacking game.  Another miss from O’Gara was soon followed by a successful one and Munster had opened their account.

A scrum from a knock-on at the restart produced another Quinss’ penalty and Evans slotted his third score of the match. O’Gara, too, kicked another penalty and at half time Harlequins led 9 – 6 and the match was nicely poised

Munster began the second half with increased power and determination led by the immense presence and performance of O’Connell. Harlequins found themselves defending desperately in their own half with little possession and little opportunity to break out. At the same time, the referee’s view of the scrum and the breakdown seemed to undergo a change and the pendulum began to swing.  In the third quarter of the match O’Gara kicked four simple penalties successfully to open a nine point lead.

Evans kicked successfully to pull three points back from his only reasonable penalty opportunity, but the Munster defence was firm and Quins could not force a breakthrough.  As time ran out they gained a five metre attacking lineout but the overthrow of the ball was the last chance gone.

So the string of defeats lengthens to five. If Harlequins are to retain a place in the Premiership play-offs there can be no more losses in the remaining league games.