2006 Heineken Cup final
Event | 2005–06 Heineken Cup | ||||||
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Date | 20 May 2006 | ||||||
Venue | 2007 → |
The 2006 Heineken Cup Final was a
Each team needed to progress through the group stage and two knockout rounds to reach the final, playing nine matches in total. Biarritz and Munster each won their respective groups to qualify for the quarter-finals. Biarritz then beat Sale Sharks in the quarter-finals and Bath in the semis, while Munster beat Perpignan in their quarter-final and fellow Irish province Leinster in their semi. Chris White, representing the Rugby Football Union, was the referee for the match, which was played under a closed roof in front of 74,534 spectators.
Biarritz scored first through a
Background
The
Route to the final
The 2005–06 Heineken Cup featured 24 teams from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy, who were drawn into six groups of four teams each. Teams were awarded four points for a win and two for a draw, with bonuses awarded to teams scoring four of more tries, and/or losing by seven or fewer points. The winners of each of the six groups as well as the two highest-placed runners-up qualified for the quarter-finals. The knockout stage then progressed as a single-elimination tournament.[9]
Biarritz
Biarritz were drawn into Pool 4 with Italian club Benetton Treviso, English side Saracens and Ulster from Ireland.[4] Their campaign started with a 22–10 loss away to Saracens at Vicarage Road on 23 October 2005,[10] but they responded with a bonus-point victory at home to Ulster at Parc des Sports Aguiléra six days later, winning 33–19 to go top of the pool.[11] Two more bonus-point wins in back-to-back games against Benetton followed in December, winning 34–7 on matchday 3 with the bonus point secured shortly after half-time,[12] before scoring six tries in the reverse fixture at Stadio Comunale di Monigo six days later as they won 38–24.[13] On matchday 5, Biarritz faced Ulster at Ravenhill; Biarritz won 24–8 to end Ulster's run of 14 matches without defeat at home.[14] In the final pool match at home to Saracens eight days later, Biarritz against scored six tries to win 43–13 and guarantee a place in the quarter-finals as pool winners.[15]
Due to Heineken Cup regulations that knockout matches had to be played at a neutral venue,[16] Biarritz's quarter-final against Sale Sharks on 2 April was played at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián. A penalty goal by Dimitri Yachvili gave Biarritz the lead midway through the first half. Charlie Hodgson equalised for Sale five minutes later, only for Yachvili to restore Biarritz's lead moments later. A try from Sireli Bobo gave the home side an 11–3 lead at half-time. Hodgson scored a second penalty for Sale with five minutes left to play, but Biarritz held on to win 11–6 and qualify for the semi-finals.[17] As Biarritz were the higher-seeded team in the semi-finals, their match against Bath was again played at the Anoeta but this time in wet conditions. Yachvili scored two penalties in the first 16 minutes, before Chris Malone pulled one back for Bath. The pair then scored another penalty each to give Biarritz a 9–6 lead at the end of the first half, and they increased their advantage to nine points in the first five minutes of the second half via another Yachvili penalty and a drop goal from Damien Traille. Malone kicked a third penalty for Bath in the 64th minute, but Yachvili restored Bath's lead two minutes from the end, giving them an 18–9 win and a place in their first Heineken Cup final.[18]
Munster
Munster were drawn in Pool 1 with French side
As the fourth-seeded team from the pool stage, Munster were given a home draw in their quarter-final against
Match
Background
In May 2005,
Munster captain
Biarritz captain and
First half
The match kicked off at 15:00 local time on 20 May 2006, in front of a Millennium Stadium crowd of 74,534 under a closed roof.[7][42] Biarritz won possession at the start but August made a weak throw allowing David Wallace to win a line-out for Munster from which was cleared by O'Gara.[7] In the second minute, Philippe Bidabé released himself from Kelly's grip and passed to Bobo.[43][44] He ran to the left-hand corner and scored a try for Biarritz.[7][44] The try was awarded by White following a review by touch judge Pearson despite broadcast replays observing Bobo's feet to be on the touchline and therefore in touch.[45][46] Yachvili successfully kicked the conversion from the far left touchline to give Biarritz a 7–0 lead.[7][43] On six minutes,[7] Bobo looked set to score his second try after laching onto a crossfield kick by O'Gara but Biarritz were adjudged to be offside.[42] From the left-hand side,[7] O'Gara successfully kicked the penalty for Munster to reduce Biarritz's lead to 7–3 in the seventh minute.[47] Shaun Payne was ruled to be in touch by Spreadbury and thus Biarritz were awarded a line-out.[47] In the 12th minute, Serge Betsen was penalised for foul play in a scrum and White reprimanded him. Munster were awarded a penalty, but Foley called for O'Gara to kick for touch instead of going for goal.[42][47]
Munster were awarded another penalty after 14 minutes but O'Gara again decided against taking it and put the ball into the corner. Traille took possession of the ball and White had to separate him and O'Gara.[42][47] On 17 minutes, Leamy found space to pass the ball to Halstead,[7] who went past Bidabé and Jean-Baptiste Gobelet to score a try for Munster from short distance in the right-hand corner.[42][44] The try was successfully converted by O'Gara whose shot from the touchline in the 18th minute went through the goal posts to give Munster a 10–7 lead.[7][45] On 21 minutes, Peter Stringer injured his back and received medical treatment to continue playing.[42] A collapsed scrum caused by Munster gave Biarritz a penalty kick. Yachvili successfully kicked the penalty to level the match at 10–10.[47] Seven minutes later, Yachvili passed the ball to Gobelet following a line-out from 15 m (49 ft). Gobelet looked set to score Biarritz's second try but Munster defended through the boot of Ian Dowling.[7][42] Not long after, O'Gara fell with a shoulder injury for which he received treatment.[42][47] Munster received a penalty but again chose not to score for three points before O'Gara kicked weakly.[7] In the 31st minute, a scrum 15 m (49 ft) from the Biarritz touchline saw Stringer collect the ball and look to his left.[44][48] Stringer ran unopposed at an angle around the back of the scrum and scored Munster's second try.[43][49][50] The try was again converted by O'Gara in the 32nd minute but no further points were scored thereafter and the first half ended 17–10 to Munster.[7]
Second half
O'Gara got the second half underway, and two minutes later Munster were awarded a penalty after White observed Biarritz not releasing the ball following a second high throw by Stringer.[5][42][47] O'Gara successfully scored the penalty on 42 minutes to give Munster a 20–10 lead. Biarritz made the match's first substitution in the 45th minute, replacing David Couzinet with Olivier Olibeau.[7] Biarritz were awarded a penalty when Hayes went offside to stop a Biarritz player gathering the ball on 47 minutes. Yachvili scored the penalty in the 48th minute to reduce Munster's lead to seven points.[47] Two minutes later,[7] another penalty was awarded to Biarritz after Leamy high-tackled Imanol Harinordoquy.[5][47] The penalty was successfully scored by Yachvili to further decrease Munster's advantage to four points.[47] Biarritz made a double substitution in each of the 52nd and 53rd minutes with Dusautoir replacing the injured Lièvremont and Federico Martín Aramburú coming on for the injured Traille.[42][47]
On 58 minutes, Betsen was penalised for not releasing Payne in a tackle, earning Munster a penalty.[7][47] A weak shot from O'Gara resulted in Peyrelongue kicking the ball up the field and won Munster a line-out.[42] In the 63rd minute, Benoît Lecouls substituted Census Johnston at Biarritz while Munster replaced Horan with Pucciariello.[7] In the 67th minute Biarritz replaced August with Benjamin Noirot for the remainder of the match.[42] Biarritz were awarded a penalty two minutes later when Foley committed a foul. On 70 minutes, Yachvili attempted a kick at goal and was successful at his fourth attempt to put Biarritz 20–19 behind.[7][47] Two minutes later,[7] Johnston illegally entered a ruck from the side, earning Munster a penalty.[5] O'Gara kicked from almost 40 m (130 ft) to score a third penalty and restore Munster's four-point advantage in the 73rd minute.[7][43] Three minutes later, O'Connell sustained an injury and was replaced by Alan Quinlan. Biarritz's final attack ended in conceding a scrum to Munster for accidental offside. As the clock passed 80 minutes, Munster were awarded a penalty for an infringement by Biarritz at that scrum. Stringer immediately kicked the ball directly into touch, allowing the referee to blow the final whistle and give Munster a 23–19 victory for their first Heineken Cup.[42][47]
Details
20 May 2006 15:00 BST |
Biarritz | 19–23 | Munster |
Try: Bobo 2' c Con: Yachvili Pen: Yachvili (4) 22', 48', 51', 70' | [7][51] | Try: Halstead 17' c Stringer 31' c Con: O'Gara (2) Pen: O'Gara (3) 7', 42', 73' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 74,534 Referee: Chris White (England) |
Man of the Match:
Touch judges
|
Statistics
Biarritz | Munster | |
---|---|---|
Tries | 1 | 2 |
Conversions | 1 | 2 |
Penalties | 4/4 | 3/3 |
Penalties conceded | 10 | 6 |
Drop goals | 0 | 0 |
Scrums won | 8/8 | 8/9 |
Lineouts won | 14/16 | 23/26 |
Turnovers conceded | 11 | 8 |
Post-match
The Heineken Cup trophy was lifted by Munster captain Foley after the match.[53] Kindey said Munster losing in the Heineken Cup final twice before helped inspire them to win: "This bunch of guys have had tough experiences over the years but have tried to learn every time they have lost."[4] His counterpart Lagisquet was sanguine: "I regret that we gave Munster a lot of gifts, especially at the five-meter scrum they scored from. We can't be too disappointed with the second half as Munster played with such high intensity."[43] He admitted Munster deserved to win the final.[48] Foley felt Munster's fans in the stadium motivated the club, adding: "I've been in a ground twice when the opposition's captain has lifted the trophy. To be the one to go up there and pick up the silverware is a great feeling."[4] Yachvili emphasised the importance of scoring quickly but acknowledged Biarritz did not put enough pressure onto Munster and did not do not enough in attacking, saying: "We always thought we could win – we lost by only four points so it was not so far away. But they were very organised and did not make any mistakes."[54] Lièvremont felt the deciding moment of the final was Halstead's 17th-minute try for Munster, adding: "We saw Munster were getting more and more tired. If we could have forced them into committing errors at the end there was a chance we could have snatched it."[54] Mary McAleese, the Irish president, conveyed a tribute to Munster during a visit of the United States.[55]
Stringer was named man of the match.[48][49] L'Équipe insisted Munster defeating Biarritz would have given the losing club no shame and singled out both fans as providing inspiration during the match: "When their players were in trouble, their red army burst into their hymn, The Fields of Athenry. Munster were not on their own – they won with the help of their whole country."[56] Le Parisien credited Munster's players for their side's victory and gave its analysis of the fixture: "The dream is over for Biarritz. The French club, who tried everything and pulled out all the stops, at the end of the match eventually lost the final at the hands of Munster, who were clearly fitter and more experienced than the Basques."[56] Tim Glover of The Independent suggested it "would have been cruel had Munster and their magnificent supporters not taken possession of the Heineken Cup".[44] Tom English of Scotland on Sunday asked "Can anybody with even a passing interest in the game be unaware of their struggle? Doubtful. Can anybody who witnessed it be unmoved by it? Not a chance."[49]
On the day after the final, the Munster team returned to Limerick to celebrate their achievement and were greeted by an estimated 40,000 supporters. A civic reception was held at Limerick City Hall that day.[8] The ERC announced on 29 May that Biarritz had lodged a formal complaint with them over the television coverage of the final. It stated Sky Television broadcast live footage of the large crowd of Munster supporters in Limerick on two large video screens inside the Millennium Stadium on two critical occasions, which they felt had provided Munster with an unfair advantage. Biarritz however accepted there was no possibility of the result being changed.[57]
Legacy
In 2016, Daily Telegraph writer Steve James included the final at number five in his list of "Top 10 European rugby finals".[58] The match was included in Sky Sports' "most memorable European showpiece games down the years",[59] and Cian Tracey for the Irish Independent named it his "most favourite game" in a 2020 article for the newspaper.[60] It was rebroadcast by Sky Sports on 17 October 2016 in tribute to Foley who had died that weekend.[61]
Notes
- 1997.[6]
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