Harlequins shocked Munster in Limerick on the weekend as they beat the home side 20-12 at Thomond Park to progress to the Amlin Challenge Cup final, where they will face Stade Francais.
Harlequins last won Europes second-tier club competition in 2001 and 2004, and after scoring tries through George Robson and Danny Care, look like they could be on track for a third title, putting the controversy of recent seasons behind them.
With the upset, the London based side became only the second side in 16 years and 42 games to beat Munster at Thomond Park in European competition. They did so with 14 men for the last ten minutes of the game, after Nick Easter was shown a second yellow.
Munster flyhalf Ronan OGara has since said that despite coach Tony McGahan saying they were all embarrassed by the loss, the team are solely to blame.
“They (the coaches) are not on the pitch. Its easy to blame them but the players were poor so lets take it on the chin, put your hands up. They didnt coach us to play like that. I would 100% put it down to the players under-performing,” said OGara.
McGahan was just as forthright earlier: “Were extremely embarrassed about the way we conducted ourselves on Saturday, with regard to playing at home, and what we represent, and what our supporters have given us over a long period of time.
“We have to live with that. We certainly need an opportunity to repay that faith, and that will come on Friday evening, and that will lend itself to next week,” he said.
Munster play Connacht in the Magners League on Friday, while Harlequins will face Stade Francais, who beat Clermont 29-25, in the final in Cardiff on May 20th.
Time: 06:33
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