It was a night to forget for Munster at Thomond Park. Seven days after a bonus point win away to Toulon reignited their stuttering European hopes, Munster somehow squandered a second half lead to 14-man Northampton to lose 26-23. Both results proved the incredible importance of Peter O'Mahony to Munster.
While Munster were irresistible a week ago, their old failings were readily apparent again today, especially in the game's final quarter, with the new Ireland captain viewing on from the sideline. With O'Mahony's day done, Northampton exposed all of the nagging flaws in the Munster lineout and stole the game.
Like the draw to Bayonne at Thomond to start the competition, Munster failed to capitalise on being in the ascendancy and could not see out a game that should have been won.
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Peter O'Mahony's reaction to Gavin Coombes injury
It was an eventful evening for the new Ireland captain.
He scored a first half try and was also put in his place by ref Tual Trainini for doing some freelance captaining.
Tual Trainini telling Peter O'Mahony he’s not the captain😯
He’s a bit too eager to get involved after being made the Ireland captain this week 😅#MUNvNOR #rugby #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/tysN34DDWj— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 20, 2024
In the second half, O'Mahony was forced to apologise to fellow backrow Gavin Coombes when a hoofed clearance kick caught the west Cork man in the proverbial balls.ie.
O'Mahony's pained facial reaction told you everything you needed to know about where the kick landed.
It must be said the incident caused a surprising outburst of mirth in the TNT Sports commentary gantry, as they realised exactly what had happened.
Oops 😅
Peter O'Mahony owes Gavin Coombes a beer for that one!#InvestecChampionsCup #MUNvNOR pic.twitter.com/77pPiPWvkh— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 20, 2024
Coombes carried on after receiving some physio attention.
Graham Rowntree reacts to Munster's defeat
Speaking to RTÉ after the game, Munster coach Graham Rowntree summed up Munster's disastrous second half up perfectly.
Immediately after halftime, we gave a couple of daft penalties away as I keep saying, and then we're just trying a bit too hard, and some of the decision-making, in poor weather against the wind...
'We got to be better than that" - Munster coach Graham Rowntree was far from happy in the way his side relinquished their advantage against Northampton @ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/HpJ60l8BFm
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 20, 2024
Rowntree confirmed to reporters after the game that Tom Ahern would spend the evening in hospital after receiving a knee to the head in the first half.
O'Mahony did suffer a hip injury in that second half, which was described as 'wait and see'.
The result leaves Munster on 9 points from Pool 3 and into the Round of 16. It also creates the distinct reality of meeting Northampton again next April. It's not the only tie from this weekend that could repeat - as things stand it looks like Leinster will host Leicester in the Round of 16, after Leinster's bonus point win over Leicester in Welford Road today.
