Munster began their Champions Cup campaign with a 33-25 victory over Racing 92 at Pairc Ui Chaoimhu. The match was played exactly ten years and one day after the death of Munster legend Anthony Foley, and was marked by numerous tributes to his life and work.
Foley was the first Munster captain to lift the Heineken Cup, and died in his sleep before the scheduled match between the two sides in October 2016. Before the start of the fixture in Cork, the Shannon RFC choir performed the song "There is an Isle", the club anthem which was part of Foley's funeral in Limerick. Neither team took the field with a player wearing Foley's number eight shirt, and a minute's applause was held in the eighth minute of the match. Members of Foley's family were also in attendance.
Munster fell behind early after Antoine Gibert kicked a penalty for Racing 92. However, Brian Gleeson, who wore number 24 due to the absence of the usual number eight jersey, broke through from the base of the scrum after six minutes and equalised the score. Shay McCarthy scored Munster's second goal in the 13th minute, and Tadhg Beirne extended the lead from close range four minutes into the second half. Munster thus led by 15 points early in the second period.
Racing 92, three-time finalists in this competition (2016, 2018 and 2020), responded with two goals within a seven-minute span in the second half, reducing Munster's lead to just three points. Wilfried Hulleu, Maxime Machenaud and Joey Manu scored for the French side, which was in 12th place in the domestic league after four defeats in six matches. Machenaud came on as a replacement for the scrum-half, and Manu's goal followed a deft exchange of passes with Hulleu and Sam James.
Munster secured the victory nonetheless. Craig Casey delayed a pass and allowed Fineenu Wycherley to run through a gap and score, and then Casey himself scored Munster's fifth goal two minutes before the end. Arthur Roche received a yellow card in the 70th minute for an awkward collision with Munster full-back Ben O'Connor. The match was refereed by Karl Dickson (RFU).
Munster returns to United Rugby Championship duties next weekend, where they travel to face Leinster.
