Munster went down on Sunday.
While the action didn’t make for attractive viewing for Munster supporters who made the journey to Bordeaux for Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92, that didn’t dampen their spirits, it didn’t quieten their voices.
If we know anything about Munster’s following based on the evidence of the last few years, it’s that it would take something extraordinary to for something crazy like that to happen.
And it was bad for Munster in Stade Chaban Delmas. Unusually bad. Johann Van Graan’s men turned in a listless display over in France as a rampant Racing side outmuscled, outfought and outdogged and outclassed them.
The unplayable Teddy Thomas took the piss with a first half brace that could have been a hat-trick of tries if he wanted it. Old Munster boy Donnacha Ryan came back to haunt his old side with a tackle-count of epic proportions.
Too many Munster men had bad games as despite a late fightback, they would go down by five points on a final scoreline of 27-22.
You can see how our rugby correspondent Pat McCarry rated the Munster men here.
What a ballshttps://t.co/LAFlr8Sb1e
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 22, 2018
While the majority of the men in red were outperformed on the field of play, that wasn’t the case in the stands as every single travelling supporters made the journey worthwhile and made themselves heard.
They did themselves and their province proud and were on the receiving end of some high compliments from rugby commentators far and wide.
The most prestigious of those came from one of the best players the game has ever seen in Dan Carter. The New Zealander made an appearance from the bench in Sunday’s one-sided clash and he was struck by the power, the unity and the loyalty of the Munster support.
“Proud of my Racing 92 brothers as we are on our way to Bilbao for the Champions Cup final. An amazing day but a shout out to the Munster fans who have to be some of the best supporters in the world,” read his post-match tweet.
Proud of my @racing92 brothers as we are on our way to Bilbao for the @ChampionsCup final. An amazing day but a shout out to the Munster fans who have to be some of the best supporters in the world!
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) April 22, 2018
That’s class.
A true gent of the game! Donnacha Ryan embraces the Munster fans as he leaves the pitch in Bordeaux. #ChampionsCup #R92vMUN pic.twitter.com/1zwEwvigif
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) April 22, 2018
