Limerick (Ireland) (AFP)

Guided by an Iribaren-Russell hinge of the big nights, the Racing 92 players came close on Saturday in Munster (21-21), a final draw synonymous with a good run in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

. Good deal anyway

At the end of a great match, the Racingmen can feed regrets, having ruined the last ammunition after the siren (80th + 1, failed penaltouche). But they can also consider themselves very happy because the Irish opener JJ Hanrahan completely missed out on the drop of the win while he was well placed and his forwards were close to the test.

The Irish, dominating in the last minutes, would have won if this shot had not passed little left of the posts. Instead, it is only the sixth time since the creation of the event in 1995 that the province of south-west Ireland is not imposing itself at home. The Munstermen had not been held in check at Thomond Park, their home in Limerick, since December 2015.

In Pool 4, nicknamed "hen of death" since there are also Saracens, defending champions, the two formations share the lead (7 points) in front of the Saracens (5). The result after this first phase is very positive for Racing.

. Russell and Iribaren, the artists

This prestigious draw, the club Hauts-de-Seine owes its entire team but above all to his opener Finn Russell, on fire. In his usual relaxed style, the Scotsman first offered himself a try (19th) while playing on foot for himself ... even making a small bridge between the legs of his direct defender!

Second stroke of genius N.10, while the Munster had equalized early in the second period (14-14, 48th): feint, breakthrough in the axis and caviar for Juan Imhoff who resists the return of the defenders (14 -21, 49e).

The other half, Teddy Iribaren, also distinguished himself meanwhile, jumping Antonie Claassen to directly serve Teddy Thomas - another Racingman very leggy - for the second test of Ciel et Blanc (29th). But the N.9 missed a penalty (54th) and was angry late in the game.

. The opportunistic Munster

The forwards of Racing have long had the upper hand, especially late in the first period when they repelled the danger on closed scrum (37th). Just before, the Irish Racing Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan had remembered the good memories of their former teammates by preventing Hanrahan to score (35th).

But the Munster, flawless on the discipline, never gave up and reacted just after this double failure: loss of ball of Cedate Gomes Sa, fault on the ground of Henry Chavancy and it is Keith Earls who puts the province on good track after a 3 against 2 well negotiated closed side (11-14, 40th).

Again led and in check offensively, the Munster blew the lock five minutes from the end with forwards found. It was the other winger, Andrew Conway, who finished (75th), and Hanrahan, of a change of touch, brought the teams to tie.

© 2019 AFP