Munster are the new champions of Europe

Toulouse's try came from exactly what i expected it to come from- the back three. one kick to heymans with space and what did he do? try time......pity he didnt get more of the ball. and im irish by d way :P...

o'connell was immense

True Munster were boring but Tolouse should have done somethin about that. (Keep the ball and keep it loose.) The irish pack will not be able to do that against a better team. Remember wales vs Ireland in the 6 nations. Identical tactics from the irish.

Munster deserved it. They the game with such passion, whereas Toulouse (with Pelous getting binned for being an idiot) seemed slightly like a Real Madrid - loads of big-name stars but no production.Also, right at the final whistle, look at 22 (think it's Lamboley) try and trip up a Munster player as well as not shaking hands. What a prick.

Its always funny how as long as a victory is not french, people seem to love it on this website. I read anti-french comments everyday on this site, and its a shame. Thats to all you Super 14 guys who constantly say the French Top 14 is shit, and to all you English who take the whole England-France rivalry a little too far, to name but a few. Lets remember this is rugby, and if it happens to be played in New Zealand or in Uzbekistan, its the same sport with the same values, one of which is RESPECT. Nice win by Munster, even though for the last 15 minutes only one back touched the ball, and it basically killed all the entertainment of a final. The point is Munster were better when they needed to be. And this is a Frenchman writing (just in case you hadn't noticed), proving that you can RESPECT the team who beats you, or any other team.

I meant 'play' the game.

Anonymous asking for the England Sevens highlights - there weren't any, they lost today. Secondly, use the requests forum for requests please. To Anonymous about the french victimisation, yeah, I agree with you - some guys for whatever reason think it's fun to have a go at the french. No idea why, but mate, don't take it to heart - the irish and welsh get a ribbing too ;)Nah seriously.. people will always be opinionated about other countries, but, by responding as you have, maturely and with grace, perhaps they'll think twice about it in future. Congrats to Munster. The atmosphere was sensational, which made the game look better than it actually was. A typical tight final with little adventure, but that's the way to win it hey.

To the French Anonymous guy... I took French in high school, and there's no way I can write French as well as you write English. Your message was very well crafted - similar to the French precision used for All Black defeats in the Rugby World Cup Semifinals.

Munster by the grace of God! Absolutely amazing final, and a perfect send-off to Declan Kidney!

Well done for posting this video so quickly, keep up the fast, good work.

I really enjoyed most of this match - loved it when Munster went ahead, loved it when Toulouse equalised - it's fun to be a neutral. Some good rugby, the referee talking and listening to his assistants, and so on.Then I saw a few... interesting incidents at rucks - most notably, the ball trickled out once before Munster were ready and one of the backs rolled it back in with a foot; this is something explicitly banned in Law but the referee didn't seem to care.The ruck is supposed to be a dynamic contest for the ball after a tackle by players on their feet, not a static forgone conclusion where the SH can wait for as long as he wants to play the ball and the opposition just have to stand and wait. To see this at the top level of European rugby shows how bad this issue has become.

cant wait for munster fans to come home from the pub next week and start leaving comments ha cmon munster

Fantastic initiative from Heymans for the try. Munster just seemed to execute their game plan perfectly, and Toulouse offered little to combat it. Perfectly planned Rugby.

we'll never leave the pub so get over it

Agree with Rawling: interesting albeit worrying refereeing issues. I've hardly seen a game where so much went on on the ground without players being penalized. Regarding Pelous, yes, he played the fool but quite frankly being yellow carded for a gentle kick in the but is a bit of a mystery to me. Especially since the guy who provoked him (Munster #6? who's been a twat all game BTW) teased him and actually walked on his foot and THEN turns to the ref when Pelous gives him a little kicky. Shameful.Well done Munster. Terribly boring game (even O'Gara complained that the backs were not getting enough balls!). But all credits to Munsterman for their control of the game.

I thought it was going to be a game a bit like Clermont-Munster... exiting as hell, unfortunately it was really quite boring to watch. But, being a forward I just have to admit that those darn munstermen know how to do it and at the end of the game they knew they gave their hearts out there. Grats munster, but please make it a little more entertaining for those who aren't playing.

I'm toulousain. It was an "ugly" game but the Irish deserved it.

Anonymous said "true munster were boring but Tolouse should have done somethin about that. (Keep the ball and keep it loose.) The irish pack will not be able to do that against a better team. Remember wales vs Ireland in the 6 nations. Identical tactics from the irish"Rubbish if anyone Toulouse were boring, we scored 3 tries all be it that 2 were disallowed, Toulouse were only lucky to pull back their score, it was fantastic work by heymans, The kiwi boys broke the line all day, even though Rog had an off day he landed his kicks, and still with all that we took home another cup!As for ireland you will see those Munster boys bust their backs for Kidney, None wanted to play O sullivans way, look what kidney did with munster this year he turned them into a full 15, past munster teams didnt have the players outside, so kidney will have all the leinster backs to do just as well,

I'm French and have been really dissapointed fo course by the loss of Toulouse. But I really think the show that has been given for this final game was a poor one. Players were able to put intensity only. No initiative have been taken from each team.It was a poor game to me. Toulouse deserve the loss. Congrats to Munster.But one more point : if we really rugby to become a top sport, wa have to find domething to avoid the last 15 minutes of no-rugby. Of course rugby is a fight. But I think someone who was discovering rugby this saturday would have been asking to himself somthing like "what's that game"?The last 20 min were a shame for the spirit of rugby to me.

Patron i dnt see how u can say that kidney has got them playing 15 man rugby. it was 10 man rugby at best! On the game itself i found it quite exciting when Toulouse had the ball in hand, especially wen Heymans was on the ball.Well done to Munster for a clever game plan.

Yeah what the fuck is patron talking about? Tolouse played some very entertaining rugby when they had it in hands.Patron said they couldnt play O'sullivan's way... what a load of bollocks. Ireland were second in the rankings at one point with him.True the kiwis broke the line a bit but only really created 1 half-chance for howlett. I'm quite confident Kidney wont win much with Ireland when they have to face a pack of a nation.

the last 15 min of the game were boring but nevertheless it was a good game - toulouse beat themselves - actually it was Jean-Baptiste Elissalde who won the game for munster with that cross field kick blunder - WTF was that - i could not believe - munster deserved the victory - they played their game - both teams deserved to be in the final - and munster was more lucky to win it

Some interesting points being made. On the Pelous yellow card I thought it was very harsh, I think it was more a descion made by the thouch judge than the ref Nigel Owens. I think common sense should have prevailed, a penalty( if it was not already awarded) or 10 meters and a warning for Pelous. I was dissapointed with some of the Tolouse tactics, Heymans is world class and wasn't used enough off setplays etc, the only opportunity he got was on the counter attack and we saw how good he was setting up the only Tolouse try. For all the people who say that the last 15mins were boring 10 man rugby and that Munster didn't go out wide, your CRAZY. Its a cup final this is how you win cup finals against a world class tolouse outfit, you do not try high risk pretty back moves only to loose possession and Heymans to score from 70 meters. All in all Munster deserved hard fought victory.

Munster couldnt play beyond 10 cause Toulouse would have capitalise out wide on mistakes, like the all blacks they are a great team for living off scraps, watch the quarter final and you will see munster running it wide in style, O Sullivan had a plan and it got them to 2nd or 3rd in the rankings, until everyone else coped on to the one dimensional style, as for the last 15 mins are ye people stupid....in the end of the day 15 munster players were on the field and they wanted to win, not for your entertainment, it shows better smarts that they were able to shut down Toulouse for 15 mins, why on earth would a team let the other team play the way they like for a good game knowing that they would score, have a bit of sense, Munster did their homework and didnt allow one of the best to show up despite the fantastic efforts of Heymans. Not taking a shot at Leinster but they could learn a thing or too about closing out matches, Leinster have the backs to score but the forwards dont seem to have the ability (many teams not just Leinster) to close out Toulouse for 15 mins, 16 phases in a cup final is brilliant. Wales close out Ireland in the 6 nations this year for 10 mins, that wasnt boring it was amazing!Its idiots who call it "boring" is the reason that those ridiculous variation laws are in, the game wasnt broken in the first place so why fix it

Maybe the last 15 minutes were boring....from a neutral point of view maybeI was there...i didnt breath for 15 minutes, it was UNBELIEVABLE!there were 65000 people there wearing munster jerseys and another 20000 or so at home limerick watching the big screen, munster didnt want to let them down so a few neutrals can have an "entertaining" 15 minutes of rugby

i wanted toulouse to win :(

Can see why ppl are upset that the game didn't flow but I can't remember a final that did. Wasps and a few other teams would've done it the very same way - winners, not losers.That said could Rugbydump put up a few clips of munster pre-semifinal?? just to show that we do have ambition in our backplay (bar the final that is!). Why play to Toulouse's strengths? One sure way to lose...

Glory Glory Munster!its about more than just that final.....the group they had, the drws they faced after.....really an amazing achievment!The No1 ranked team in europe and they showed why.

patron- did you really have to have a shot at Leinster? that's a little sad. also, two-nil to Leinster this season and our forwards didn't have any problem going toe to toe with yours either day. lay off the cliches buddy.well done Munster.

Well, I do not want to enter in the french-english-whatever polemic. What I do want to say is: That Munster game was based on the first 8. That Rugby IS NOT an entertainment (For me it's a religion, with rites and gods). That forward playing is only boring for pussy backs. That Munster deserved to win. This game is technical, but spirit, mind, motivation; are the main clues of succeding in a match. That Toulouse forwards where clearly overpassed (Pelous sinbinning was a clear symptom). That French people believe themselves God, but sometimes, human beings (Argentina in RWC, and our fellas from Munster); ARE WAY MUCH BIGGER than gods.A Spanish Bastard.

Right, I could rage on about how you're a perfect example of people who dont respect the French, "Spanish Bastard", and so probably don't respect other countries and cultures, but all I have to say is that you're giving Spain a bad image. Shame, in my view, cos Spain is such a cool place. And mate, if you were in France you'd realize how many people here DO NOT think they're gods. France is currently in deep shit economically, just as is Spain (if I have my info right Spain has suffered even more from the crisis, unfortunately), as well as socially, making everyone here doubt in our government and in our country. So unless you happen to know every French person on earth, that's about 65 million people, and they're all cocky, arrogant bastards like you and many others think they are, then you have proven me wrong, and can go gloat on like cocky, arrogant bastards. Until then, have fun insulting other cultures!PS: about the Pumas, I was probably one of their biggest fans and I reckon they deserved more than to be 3rd. (Thank you Rugbydump for the amazing video tribute)

hey mick, didnt mean to take a shot was using the closest to home example, couldnt really use connacht or ulster, as a Munster man myself if Leinster was to put out forwards that could close out a match you would a serious contender...each team has their strength and Leinster have strength in depth in the backs (majority of which are irish, fair play) and Munster play a tight game, the new era under kidney will be one to look forward too, the provinces (munster and Leinster) have bounced back fantastically since the world cup, Leinster have the ML and Munster the HC....all positives in the grand scheme of things

the Leinster backs were actually quite poor this year, it was the forwards who ground out results, the signings of leroux, cullen and jennings had a huge effect while stan wright, gleeson and heaslip all had massive seasons too. hopefully when they get together under Kidney he can get the best out of them because this was not a great season for Irish backs.http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2008/0525/magnersleague.htmlThere's only one Irishman on the Magners league team of the season, and he's an Ulster man. :(

in the backline i mean

Patron, Leinster's pack has been closing out ML games all season. It was them that won the ML for Leinster. Alright, they didn't do it in the Heineken Cup apart from the Leicester match at home but I have a feeling that with a decent coach in charge of the national team that both Leinster and Munster will be better next season. Remember how their pack bullied us in Musgrave Park and in the RDS? I really hope that they build on that and we work hard at ML, it can only be good for Ireland. Irish double not band considering what we were facing after the world cup.

Adding to my comment just there for anyone that's interested Mafi Tipoki and Howlett did the Haka at the homecoming in Limerick:http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=phdLPlJCi8s

Congrats to Munster, great forwards and great atmosphere from "the red army" !!Concerning the match, i was a bit disappointed by the game. not surprising to see Munster play with just 10 men, not very beautiful to see that also...:( But in a final, whatever the way u play, u play for the win. i admire o'connell and leamy. Congrats to them!Toulouse tried to play and brought some creativity but i'm not sure that they had the "legs" of their ambition. What a try from heymans !! They were not far from the 2nd try but didn't do enough.ps: i was a bit surprised by the referee. Is it true that was the same referee in munster 1/4 and 1/2 finals ??? Is rugby dump become a place where people insult each other (i see in some comments that french are cocks and arrogants)?

french ppl are definitly cocks and arrogant in Canada, but i'm surprised that they're the same thing in France, I thought that was where french ppl are cool :S

About the comment on insulting French people, I was using a stereotype and if you read my comment carefully I actually denounce racism or any type of hate against certain countries. (I hope I dont sound cocky, cos Im not the first person to do what I say I do, Im just trying to defend my beliefs).

Guys, why, whenever Irish and French rugby is involved, do we have to get political???! Come on man this is RUGBY for F*CKS SAKE!If you're not going to make a constructive, positive comment, take it somewhere else please. And if you do want to get into a heated debate, join the forum where you can discuss things in a mature manner. Otherwise, just enjoy the clips or get lost. You ruin it for the rest of us who just enjoy watching the great rugby footage.

Great game!! any team could of won!

Congrats to the winners.. but you have to look at some of the touch line referee decisions.. When Heymans cleared the ball under pressure, he never put his foot out! The ref actually turned his back on the action to take shelter... and then he takes the wrong decision, setteling Munster inside Toulouse 22.. with the result you all know.Munster were better in that final.. more focus, less errors (look at Pelous! it's sad to see).. But regardless of which team you support, you gotta be sorry for Toulouse. On the paper, they are a litle better. Their game is much more entertaining. One struck of genius from Heymans, and you just got a brilliant try. And yes, you can win titiles with such way to play.. Just look at this final, and how close it was. Had Ellisalde not missed his first penalty, they would have gotten a draw, for starters.I know I'm bitter but come on.. look how dull Munster was.. A 10 man rugby team !

i can't see how anyone thought it was boring i couldn't set down for the last twenty minutes. I would like to see more action from the backs but you do anything you can to win finals and munster did but toulose didn't simple as that.

Leinster did have our number this year in the ML, i would love to see a Munster Leinster match were both teams show up and play to their 15 players, that would be a cracker...Cheers for the link with the 3 boys doing the Haka, SavageAs for the whole french debate, they are in a process of transition, the french coach seemed arrogent blooding a load of unknowns in the 6 nations, fair play to do that especially since the french public will turn on a knife, it will stand in the future.Pelous is one of the most honest, good-sport players (off the field) honest and graceous in defeat unlike their coach who is a nob, a few bad eggs and they are all branded

Not sure if I said it before, but BOY what an atmosphere there in Cardiff! I was sitting miles away watching, but you could feel that special feeling within the stadium, no matter which team you support. Sensational. As a S14 man... don't expect anything like that from Christchurch for the final on Saturday unfortunately. :(The atmosphere made this game. Incredible scenes as they scanned around the stadium. I also loved when the lights went off for the presentation and the heartbeat noise came on. Pretty dramatic stuff that! lol

that toulouse try was pure luck from the first bounce on!where was that french attacking?munster should have given their centers more chances at runningthat munster no15 didnt jump for the catch so no wonder jauzion got there every timeexpect the super14 final to be way more entertaining

So sick of these arrogant SH assholes. Toulouse's try was brilliant, and came from a very audacious move by Heymans, one of the most entertaining players in world rugby.And although Munster's strategy was boring, it was the right strategy. Plus you can't ask them to run with the ball. They have the fastest man in world rugby in their team and he got one ball during the whole game...

Why don't RD ban racist comments?

This and 2006 ...best days of my life!The atmosphere there was amazing, the Millenium stadium is probably the best in the world 4 atmosphere when its full and the roof is closed.Irish by birth, MUNSTER by grace of God! :-D

As Brian Moore put it perfectly"When it came down to it, Toulouse could do nothing about the control of the Munster forwards. Drive after drive, maul after maul, breakdown after breakdown, Munster pounded the life out of Toulouse. This would not have been entertaining for proponents of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), nor those who do not appreciate the amount of skill required to sustain this type of game. Good. What the marketing men should be doing is educating casual viewers, not pandering to them."It was a cup final, not a kickabout in the park.

Yeah right. It was a World cup final, good thing it was an ugly game then.

Olivier, 'arrogant SH a**holes'? Where did that come from lol

who was wearing the 22 shirt for Toulouse? Nice bit of sportsmanship right after the final whistle when he tried to trip a Munster player who was running away from him to celebrate.

Hey dudes wake up. How really strong do you think is the munster team?They have one competition to play : the H Cup.In french championship they would never reach the top 6 places (they are already unable in Celtic league...) with the rythm set up. And Munster is Irish team which is totally has been.The team who has the best physics win, that's all.An to me (everybody can say whatever ha wants, that's a fact), show shown by Munster was poor and the level of this final was poor.Another question is why did Howlett signed for this team?

OMG anonymous your right!!Munster, twice champions of europe, (who had to beat Clermont(top of french) Wasps and Glouster(top 2 in premiership) with a budget and resources roughly one fifth of touslouse, with players 1-10 all from the province of munster) are shite!we are all so stupid to have not realised this sooner!!!

Funny to read all these comments (non objective comments) about the game from men of the islands. Hahaha!Jealousy? Nobody here in France can be jealous of the way Munster played. I can read comments like "great play from munster". Really? that's poor ruggy that had been proposed by this team. Rugby fan or not, that's a fact. The last 20 mins were a shame for the game. Of course I play rugby and I enjoy rucks (I'm forward), but who can say Munster way of playing is interesting? Of course, many people say : "rugby is a fight and Munster won the fight". If fighting is taking the ball behing the ruck and laying down 20 cm later like a 70 year s old mama, I don't call this a fight. That's refusing to fight to keep the result. That's a way to say : "I'm frightened by the opponent and I just keep the ball".That should be the referee's business to say a team play against the spirit.This final has sent us 20 years back in the past of rugby. Regarding to the solutions perhaps we could try to push teams to not refuse to play like Munster did. Handball has some good rules about this (the problem is that the decision is taken by the referee : he decides if the teams wish really or not to attack).If Munster is really the best team in Europe, I'll turn to basketball soon (please other team, don't copy them!)

main point is that at the end of the day we won, end of story, few teams have the ability to win the cup and even fewer to win it twice, it just wasnt Toulouse's day, munster played to THEIR strengths not Toulouses (im sick of saying that at this stage) NOT for other NEUTRAL fans NOT for Toulouse but for US, we have a formula and few can beat it so, it only takes 10 Munster boys to close off 15 others so F**k the lot of ye!!!

Toulouse played on its own strength but the difference is Munster has to play 3 important game into their league a year. Question of budget or not, this not the best team who won but the less tired. And if Munster is really unbeatable, that's sad for the sport I like. This totally unambitious way...And for the other guy who compared budget of Toulouse and Munster I say this : if Munster would have joined the french league, perhaps you'll understand why Toulouse and other french club have big budget compared to Irish club. When the french national team play, the international player leave their club of course, but the championship continues. Clerc, Heymans, Poitrenaud, Pelous, Nyanga, Servat, Elissalde, Jauzion and many joins the french team. This is simple to understand : if you don t have to competitive teams, you can t compete.So don t stupidly compare without knowing what you talk about.

Didn't realise that rugby supporters were so bittercant people just say congratulations to Munster for winning?May not have been the most entertaining display but in the end of the day Munster went home with the cupwell doneto anonymous above, dont all leagues continue during international competition when players are away?

No...

To Moinseur Anonymous above, lets not forget that Toulouse and Stade Francais played the most boring final ever in 2005. Toulouse won by kicking five penalties and a drop goal, yes? Typical French attacking flair. As to budget, it dosent matter if Tolouse and other French teams have to spend more to compete in their league, it is still an issue and it does make Munsters achievement all the more impressive. THere are only four professional teams in Ireland because the money and the number of people playing rugby in Ireland is tiny compared to France, England, Wales and Scotland. But with 12 players coming from a region of six counties, Munster still managed to beat a team with how many players from how many COUNTRIES? Accept that you were beaten by the better, prouder team on the day and get over it.

total rugby..rugby is the best game on this earth..you can play it anyway you want to..god bless the gifted

The following statement has the particularity not to have anything to do with budget/money issues :"Munster won by playing a very boring game. Those who were in the stadium had not paid tickets to see 25 minutes of pick and go".The rest is just blablabla

So many sore losers.The Munster mentality is this. If you think you are good, come and show us. We will applaud you IF you are better. Toulouse showed very little. We waited for the storm. It never came. Even when Heymans inspired that beautiful try we knew it was sparked by Howlett crossing the Stade line just moments before.Munster said to Stade, come and beat us. They could not. Munster had three exquisite line breaks, (one forward pass and two knock ons killed the try chance) otherwise it could have been a very different scoreline.Munster could have played the game again and still won. Shame on Stade Toulousain for being such sore losers. I hope we meet next year so that we can take your excuses and feed them to you.

You have to be a non frenchman to agree to a "masterminded game"... Just boring, though deserved, that's not the rugby I enjoy playing or watching. Winning is all that matters if you will, no way it will remain being watched with this kind of game.Lucky the irish guys give up a few drinks to compensate.

To anonymous French guy: Munster finished third in this year's Magners(Celtic) League.That seems to be in the top 6 to me.And Magners League games continue to be played during international tournaments like the autumn internationals or the 6 nations.The top 14 has 8 more matches, that's the only excuse you can use