Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster v Toulouse

The Aviva Stadium will turn red for Munster’s mouth-watering quarter-final duel with defending champions, as they look to reach the Heineken Champions Cup’s last-four for the first time since 2019.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, May 7

MUNSTER v TOULOUSE, Aviva Stadium, 3pm (live BT Sport 2/France 2/beIN Sports/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights Virgin Media Two)

Team News: The Munster team has been announced for their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with title holders Toulouse at Irish Rugby HQ.

Ticket sales for the game passed the 38,000 mark as of last evening. Tickets will be available to purchase online up to kick-off here, and also from the Ticketmaster van at the top of Lansdowne Road here, today from 12.30pm (card payments only).

Stephen Archer is preferred to John Ryan at tighthead prop and John Hodnett, who is out with a knee injury, is replaced at openside flanker by Alex Kendellen who makes his first Champions Cup start.

They are the only two changes to the Munster side that secured a 26-10 victory over Exeter Chiefs last month. It will be Archer’s 247th Munster appearance, moving him level with Billy Holland as joint-second on the province’s all-time caps list.

The in-form Mike Haley, Munster’s player-of-the-match against Cardiff last week, anchors the back-three with vastly-experienced duo Keith Earls and Simon Zebo either side of him.

The strong-carrying pair of Chris Farrell and Damian de Allende join forces again in midfield, while Joey Carbery, who starred with 21 points against Exeter, and Conor Murray will be at the helm at half-back.

22-year-old loosehead Josh Wycherley will pack down with Niall Scannell and Archer in the front row, supported by Jean Kleyn and Josh’s older brother Fineen (24) from the engine room.

Captain Peter O’Mahony, Greencore Munster Rugby Academy youngster Kendellen (21) and Jack O’Donoghue are the loose forwards as Munster look to avenge last season’s 40-33 round of 16 defeat to Toulouse.

Flanker Jack Daly is among the replacements and in line to make his European debut on his sixth Munster appearance. A native of Currans in Kerry, Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and plays his Energia All-Ireland League rugby with Garryowen.

Andrew Conway, who returned to training this week after a knee injury, misses out on the matchday 23, while the province’s injury list includes Hodnett, Gavin Coombes (ankle), Chris Cloete (head), Dave Kilcoyne (neck), Tadhg Beirne (thigh) and RG Snyman (knee).

“We had big moments last year but when you have no crowd (due to the Covid-19 restrictions) it feels like the hard works goes unnoticed,” admitted Springbok star de Allende.

“Last year was frustrating against Toulouse – not that we left anything out there, just the mistakes that we made. Hopefully we’ve learned from that. The crowd can keep you up for much longer and Exeter (in the last round) was like that.

“I think the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday is going to be incredible, but I think the energy on the field…I can’t explain it but I get that feeling of it’s going to be a cracker of a game on Saturday afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Julien Marchand returns to captain Toulouse from the front row after missing their two round of 16 tussles with Ulster which included that crucial 30-23 triumph in Belfast.

Tim Nanai-Williams’ absence in midfield is covered by former Agen back Pierre Fouyssac, who donned the number 13 jersey for last week’s 23-16 Top 14 success at home to La Rochelle.

The other changes from Toulouse’s last European outing are all up front, with Marchand and fellow French international Dorian Aldegheri, who deputises for Charlie Faumuina at tighthead, packing down with Rodrigue Neti.

The 6ft 8in, 145kg Emmanuel Meafou gets the nod to join Rory Arnold in a powerhouse second row combination, while Thibaud Flament and Francois Cros are chosen to combine with South African Rynhardt Elstadt in the last line of the scrum.

Coached by Ugo Mola since 2015, Toulouse have ten of France’s 2022 Grand Slam winners in their ranks, with three on the bench in the form of Anthony Jelonch, Cyrill Baille and Peato Mauvaka.

MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Simon Zebo; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jason Jenkins, Thomas Ahern, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Jack Daly.

TOULOUSE: Thomas Ramos; Dimitri Delibes, Pierre Fouyssac, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Rodrigue Neti, Julien Marchand (capt), Dorian Aldegheri, Rory Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou, Rynhardt Elstadt, Thibaud Flament, Francois Cros.

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille, David Ainu’u, Joe Tekori, Selevasio Tolofua, Anthony Jelonch, Baptiste Germain, Maxime Médard.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley, Jake Makepeace (both England)
Television Match Official: Stuart Terheege (England)

Pre-Match Quotes: Jack O’Donoghue (Munster) – “I think we brought a varied attacking game (against Toulouse last year), we stretched them right until the very end. The game was in the balance right up until the 80th minute and that’s something we have probably backed up again this year.

“You saw games where we won it right at the end and to still be in the fight at 80 minutes against them was good, but we probably came out of that game and saw areas where we needed to improve a lot more.

“Our exits, I don’t think we exited efficiently enough that day and as a result of that, they kept the pressure on us. That’s something we need to be really clinical with this weekend – when we have an opportunity to get out of our 22, that we do so efficiently.

“Controlling their nine and 10, they’re massive game controllers for them and there will be moments of magic out of them, so it’s about not being shocked by that and really taking the game to them.

“The sea of red is just following us around and it’s going to be an incredible atmosphere having 30,000-plus Munster fans there as well as the travelling Toulouse fans. It’s really going to make for a special occasion and I think the atmosphere is going to be electric.”

Julien Marchand (Toulouse) – “We’ll take what the weather gives us. We’ve planned and worked on both scenarios, whether the sun is shining or it’s raining. We still have to play our rugby.

“Above all, we must respect the game and start by doing simple things well. We’ll see how the game develops, but we’ll have to start with the basics and not overplay.

“It’s always an achievement to win in Ireland against this Munster team. At Ulster, the team played a very good game, even if the result could have gone against us. Fortunately, it ended well for us.

“Now we are in the quarter-final, we have to continue in the same vein as the last few games and make sure we erase the little mistakes.

“Last year we didn’t have spectators in the ground for the Munster game. They are going to play an important role and it’s going to be advantage Munster. They have a big crowd, one of the best, which will push them on. We cannot let it unsettle us.”

Current Form – Munster – (United Rugby Championship): Won 42-17 v Cell C Sharks (home), Won 34-18 v DHL Stormers (home), Won 43-13 v Scarlets (away), Won 20-18 v Connacht (home), Lost 18-10 v Ospreys (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 35-14 v Wasps (away), Won 19-13 v Castres Olympique (home); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 10-8 v Connacht (away), Won 18-13 v Ulster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 16-13 v Castres Olympique (away), Won 45-7 v Wasps (home); (United Rugby Championship): Won 34-17 v Zebra Parma (away), Lost 13-11 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 34-20 v Edinburgh (home), Won 64-3 v Dragons (home), Lost 29-24 v Vodacom Bulls (away), Lost 23-21 v Emirates Lions (away), Won 51-22 v Benetton Rugby (home), Lost 34-19 v Leinster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Lost 13-8 v Exeter Chiefs (away), Won 26-10 v Exeter Chiefs (home); (United Rugby Championship): Won 24-17 v Ulster (away), Won 42-21 v Cardiff Rugby (home)

Toulouse – (Top 14 Championship): Won 20-16 v La Rochelle (away), Won 41-10 v Toulon (home), Won 17-15 v Montpellier (away), Won 27-15 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Won 17-11 v Biarritz Olympique (away), Won 38-10 v Pau (home), Lost 25-19 v Lyon (away), Won 41-0 v Castres Olympique (home), Lost 27-18 v Racing 92 (away), Won 37-15 v Perpignan (home), Won 18-11 v Brive (home), Lost 17-7 v Bordeaux Bègles (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 39-7 v Cardiff Rugby (away), Match cancelled & result recorded as 0-0 draw v Wasps (home); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 16-13 v Clermont Auvergne (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 30-22 v Wasps (away), Match cancelled & result awarded to Cardiff Rugby (28-0) v Cardiff Rugby (home); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 20-15 v Racing 92 (home), Lost 36-13 v Perpignan (away), Lost 29-28 v Stade Francais (home), Lost 27-22 v Pau (away), Won 12-11 v Bordeaux Bègles (home), Lost 23-16 v Stade Francais (away), Won 35-10 v Montpellier (home), Won 27-19 v Lyon (home), Lost 19-13 v Castres Olympique (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Lost 26-20 v Ulster (home), Won 30-23 v Ulster (away); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 19-15 v Toulon (away), Won 23-16 v La Rochelle (home)

Top Scorers – 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup: Munster – Points: Joey Carbery 36; Tries: Simon Zebo, Jack O’Donoghue 2 each; Toulouse – Points: Thomas Ramos 34; Tries: Emmanuel Meafou, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont 2 each

Previous European Meetings: 7

Saturday, April 3, 2021 – Round of 16 – Munster 33 Toulouse 40, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 1, 2017 – Quarter-final – Munster 41 Toulouse 16, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 5, 2014 – Quarter-final – Munster 47 Toulouse 23, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 24, 2008 – Final – Munster 16 Toulouse 13, Millennium Stadium
Saturday, April 26, 2003 – Semi-final – Toulouse 13 Munster 12, Le Stadium
Saturday, May 6, 2000 – Semi-final – Toulouse 25 Munster 31, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Saturday, November 2, 1996 – Pool D – Toulouse 60 Munster 19, Stade Ernest Wallon

Match Facts –

– Munster have won the most quarter-finals of any team in the competition with their tally of 14, including their last five – a run that features two wins over Toulouse (47-23 in 2013/14 and 41-16 in 2016/17)

– Munster have won four of their previous seven Heineken Champions Cup encounters with Toulouse, including a victory in the 2008 final (16-13). However, they lost their most recent clash with the five-time champions (40-33 in last season’s round of 16)

– Munster and Toulouse will each be playing in their 19th quarter-final in the Champions Cup. No other team have played as many fixtures at this stage of the competition

– Toulouse have won their last three quarter-final ties in the Champions Cup after losing their previous three in a row, two of those defeats coming against Munster

– Toulouse have won their last four Champions Cup away games against Irish opposition, this after losing their previous five such matches. Their last three wins in Ireland have each come by exactly seven points

– Munster are one of two teams remaining in this season’s Champions Cup not to have conceded a single try that originated from a scrum. Additionally, 20% of their own tries have originated from scrums, the highest percentage of any side remaining in this season’s competition

– No side have forced more opposition turnovers in this season’s Champions Cup than Munster (48). Additionally, no team left in the competition have conceded more turnovers this season than Toulouse (70)

– Toulouse have beaten an average of 30 defenders per game in this season’s Champions Cup. Only Leinster (31) have averaged more in the competition in 2021/22

– No player has claimed more lineouts in this season’s Champions Cup than Munster captain Peter O’Mahony (36). O’Mahony has also stolen at least three more opposition lineouts than any other player this season (7)

– Toulouse scrum half Antoine Dupont has beaten 18 defenders in his three Champions Cup appearances this season. His average of six defenders beaten per game is the most of any player to feature more than once in the competition in 2021/22

European Cup Records:

Munster –
2020/21: Reached the round of 16
2019/20: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2018/19: Reached the semi-finals
2017/18: Reached the semi-finals
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D

Toulouse –
2020/21: Champions
2019/20: Reached the semi-finals
2018/19: Reached the semi-finals
2016/17: Reached the quarter-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Reached the semi-finals
2009/10: Champions
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Runners-up
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Champions
2003/04: Runners-up
2002/03: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Reached the semi-finals
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the semi Finals
1996/97: Reached the semi-finals
1995/96: Champions