Last-gasp bonus point keeps Munster hopes alive

Munster have it all to do next month if they are to retain their interest in the European Champions Cup.

Anthony Foley's side were beaten 26-19 by Clermont Auvergne, but Ian Keatley dragged the province to a losing bonus point with the last kick of the game, giving Munster a glimmer of hope if they can beat English duo Saracens and Sale next month. The visitors made a bright start and took a 6-0 lead through a pair of Ian Keatley penalties, although they failed to take a pair of try-scoring chances as last ditch tackles from Aurelien Rougerie and Camille Lopez saw the French side hold firm. The French side then took charge, with captain Damien Chouly finishing off a scintillating move to stretch for the line. A penalty from Lopez put the hosts in front, but it appeared Munster had weathered the storm and would go into the dressing-room 8-6 down. But the failure to adequately clear their lines was punished in lightning fashion by winger Noa Nakaitaci, who sidestepped his way through the red line of defence to touch down and make it 15-6 at the break. Munster struck first through Keatley after the break, but any momentum was halted when Felix Jones was sin-binned for taking out a player without the ball. A pair of penalties made it 21-9 to Clermont, and all looked lost when Chouly appeared all alone on the wing to haul in a crossfield kick and score his second try. But Munster continued to plug away and Duncan Casey pounced on a loose pass to cut the gap to ten points at 26-16. With time running out, Munster went in search of the points that would give them that potentially crucial bonus point, and Clermont duly obliged, giving away a long-range penalty that Keatley confidently struck between the posts.