ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Sunday Nov 13, 2011

Ronan O'Gara sinks Saints with injury time drop goal

Heineken Cup rugby has delivered once again as the first round of matches have had fans on the edge of their seats all around Europe, none more so than in the Munster vs Northampton thriller on Saturday night. Munster were trailing with time up, before Ronan O’Gara pulled the trigger.

Saints looked like they were on their way to a well deserved away win as they tackled everything in sight in those final few minutes, actually driving Munster back on more than one occasion. The home side kept at it though, keeping possesion for over five minutes and 40 phases, all the time confident in the knowledge that they had O’Gara patiently waiting for the right moment.

When it came, following another great surge of momentum from Doug Howlett – who scored a wonderful try earlier in the match – O’Gara took the chance without a sniff.

“It was something special. The belief in the group, the way they stuck at it for 80 minutes, a lesser side would maybe not even have been in the contest,” said coach Tony McGahan.

“Ronan O’Gara’s kick at the end, he’s a special person to do that, to show the bottle to put his hand up and make the kick. This felt like a Round Six encounter during the week when it actually was an opening-round game. This competition is like six Test matches and we are approaching it in that fashion. The win gives us a great buzz,” he added.

Saints fans weren’t too pleased with the refereeing of Nigel Owens, who has had a rough few months. Northampton coach Jim Mallinder said he was disappointed with some of the calls.

“I think the game did hinge on some crucial refereeing decisions. I felt the referee got quite a lot wrong. I think it is as simple as that. It is difficult. It is an intimidating place to play with a cracking atmosphere.

“Sometimes you don’t always get the rub of the green and I think we will look back and probably say we did not quite get it. The mood in the dressing room is low. The feeling is one of frustration.”

Below are the final few minutes, including all of 41 phases, and then the winning kick.

Please Note: Clips from the rest of the weekend’s matches will be posted over the next few days

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    The man who once raced a Cheetah: Bryan Habana...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Experience the Haka in first person

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Foster stages assault on World Rugby headquarters...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

View All