Drama of the highest order.
Leicester had lost just once in their last 32 European games at Welford Road. Munster were unbeaten in eight games. Something had to give in the Champions Cup this afternoon. And it was a topsy-turvy thriller.
Two penalties from the boot of Tyler Bleyendaal had Munster ahead. Manu Tuilagi was sent to the sin bin for the second week in a row, but Owen Williams kicked two penalties in that time. Bleyendaal and Williams went back and forth. With five minutes to go Niall Scannell crashed over the line and Bleyendaal converted to give Munster a one-point lead.
But with just a minute left Williams kicked a penalty from inside his own half to give the home side the win.
French referee Pascal Gauzere was unpopular with both sets of fans.
The Munster contingent
Tigers definitely fired up, but they're not overmatching Munster physically for the most part. Gauzere needs to be managed though #LEIvMUN
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) December 17, 2016
POM should ask the ref what the penalty count is. #LEIvMUN
— BallHandling Hooker (@BHHooker) December 17, 2016
The quality of French refs is shocking. Gauzere following in the footsteps of Poite & Garces. Somehow managing to shaft both teams #leivmun
— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) December 17, 2016
The Leicester contingent
Bad-tempered, low quality game so far. Gauzere is impossibly awful. At least it's potentially winnable. #LEIvMUN
— Charles, you know, from Autism (@charleswrites) December 17, 2016
pascal gauzere is having a shocker at the moment and I normally rate him as a ref
— traveller (@baileysoverice) December 17, 2016
And then came Simon Zebo's yellow card.
That's a joke... 😳 yellow card? 🙄
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) December 17, 2016
How running at full speed is Zebo meant to slow down and not commit to that tackle?! #shocker #LEIvMUN
— Mike South (@southymikeFFS) December 17, 2016
The standard of refereeing in top flight rugby has become shocking the last 12 months. Zebo's yellow card another fine example #leivmun
— Ben James (@BenJames40) December 17, 2016
Terrible decision on Zebo! He could never pull out at the speed he was going! #Joke #LEIvMUN
— Mark McHugh (@MarkMcHugh1) December 17, 2016
Referees and TMOs are currently having a competition to see who can give the softest cards. Never a pen, let alone a yellow #leivmun
— Christopher Jones (@CJonesy77) December 17, 2016
It was Munster's first defeat since the passing of Anthony Foley and it means they're second in Pool One. With a couple of games in hand though! They head to Racing 92 for their re-schedule match on January the 7th.
