Saracens
LIMERICK
By Darraghgirl
December 11 2012
We all said a quick little prayer / And climbed up aboard Ryanair / For this was the date / That could seal the fate / Of the Heineken Cup for this year. Come on guys, this game was in Limerick , so what did you expect!
We set off to that hallowed s*d
Where the cream of Irish rugby has trod
Where it’s writ on the earth
“Irish by birth
Munster by the Grace of God”
Twenty six and a half thousand Irish chanted “stand up and fight” (didn’t know Bizet was an Irishman) while a few hundred stout-hearted Englishmen mostly in the VERY naughty corner did their best with “Sarries, Sarries”.
Munster are a team with a thoroughbred European bloodline. They may be a couple of years past their best but they know how to perform on the European stage especially at their beloved Thomond Park. Sarries started off as if they’d never played together (which was probably true given the International break) and looked like rabbits caught in the Thomond Park Floodlights.
Things didn’t start out very well
An O’Gara kick made it three nil
Worse was to come
A fight at the scrum
And another yellow card for Rhys Gill.
Fortunately Munster lost Donncha O’Callaghan for 10 minutes as well. Then Sarries were awarded a kickable penalty when Charlie was taken out in the air.
To Owen the Kicking Tee
Where Oh where was Charlie?
After kicking so well
Why did we break the spell?
Owen fluffed this one horribly!
The first quarter had largely been Munster attacks just about repelled by a scrambled Sarries’ defence.
The lineout wasn’t functioning well
And Brits was as rusty as hell
Unfortunately, Schalk
A week in New York
Did nothing for your throwing in skill!
Another Munster penalty and another super kick from O’Gara to double the lead.
Half time was approaching fast
Another chance for Owen at last
This time he succeeded
Put progress was impeded
When a third from O’Gara flew past.
Fortunately he missed the drop goal attempt making it 9-3 at half time. So to the second half.
Almost at once Owen tried
To reduce the arrears for his side
But it all came to naught
As the kick was too short
And the poor lad had nowhere to hide.
But the ref held his arm up once more
And this time Owen managed to score
But O’Gara replied
With 3 more for his side
As the scrum went down on the floor.
Half an hour left and things weren’t looking hopeful. The inevitable substitutions. O’Gara’s magic boot hit another penalty and Owen missed another. 15-6.
The scrum was a mystery
Not least to the referee
Our turn or theirs?
It was like musical chairs
As to who would get the penalty.
At last Smit replaced Brits and a strangely anonymous Charlie also departed.
So now it was all down to Owen
Who was starting to get the game flowin’
Then Fraser almost scored
But got shoved overboard
Finally they’d managed to get goin’!
As the minutes ticked down, we were showing some spirit!
At last we’re in their danger zone
And Ash is out wide on his own
But Zebo’s late call
Takes him out off the ball
And the penalty is one again Owen’s.
I know the rhymes are getting a bit lame but honestly you try……
Poor Owen, his kick hit the post and it looked as if we would leave Thomond Park with nothing.
Strettle was loose on the right
Was this the first try of the night?
But he’s shoved into touch
By Felix Jones’ clutch
But at least we were showing some fight.
Time’s running out pretty quick
And we get another penalty kick
The kick sails over
And Owen’s in clover
All too late something’s starting to tick.
And interestingly Munster were happy to settle at that rather than pushing for another 3 themselves and denying us the losing bonus point.
Munster were stronger that’s true
We Sarries must give them their due
They won the match
But the bonus we snatched
Could be all we need to go through!
All in all it was a brilliant weekend. With the possible exception of Clermont Ferrand, I have never seen a place where rugby is so ingrained in a town and in its people. The Irish were wonderful. It was impossible to go anywhere or do anything without being engaged in a long conversation about rugby in general and the game in particular. They seriously thought they would lose and hence were delighted with the win. And as I write this listening to the problems ensuing from a football match in Manchester, how lucky we are to follow rugby. And one final point for the birders, I saw my first hooded crow!
Despite the result we can smile
We’re still on the top of the pile
No need to remind us
To put this behind us
And next week we’ll win by a mile!
Apologies to all poets and many thanks to Colin, Paul, Catrina, Caroline and Christina for their “help” with the rhymes!
Munster:
Jones (Laulala), Howlett, Earls, Downey, Zebo (Keatley), O’Gara, Murray, Kilcoyne (Du Preez), Sherry (Varley), Botha, Donnach O’Callaghan, David O’Callaghan (Butler) , O’Mahony, Coughlan
Saracens:
Goode, Ashton, Farrell, Barritt, Wyles, Hodgson (Strettle), De Kock (Wigglesworth), Gill (Vunipola), Brits (Smit), Stevens, Borthwick, Botha (Kruis), Brown, Fraser (Saull), Joubert
Scorers:-
Munster – O’Gara 5 pens
Saracens – Farrell 3 pens
Attendance 26,500
Referee : Pascal Gauzere
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Stumbleupon11/12/2012 21:37
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DG thanks for a great match report on a not so great match.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:01:02:12:18:36 by sutton_sarrie.
Darragh Girl, for I know your the sort
To relate what you see
And so accurately
That you'd make a top class referee
On whose accuracy I can support
On details it refrained
For better it entertained
Her hope for next weekend I can purport
It's hard doing a report - and even harder as a series of good Limericks!
Well done!
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