Unbelievable Jeff!

MIDLAND monsters. This was one of the greatest games even the Heineken Cup has seen. It was the best I have ever seen from a Northampton team and iwas a match of such extraordinary pace, quality, tension and drama that it illuminated the autumn.

Munster had to come back from 28-14 down after a Northampton team inspired by Shane Geraghty as an electric controller and Courtney Lawes as a driven and talented forward threatened to annihilate them. Typically, Munster’s recovery was devastating. They were hammering away in the agonising closing stages underneath the Northampton posts, but any other result here than a Northampton victory would have been a travesty.

Geraghty, who scored 21 points, looked about five divisions improved from the player who first appeared for England two years ago. He was masterly at fly-half, conjured a glorious try in the third quarter and could even threaten what is reckoned to be the procession of Jonny Wilkinson back into the England team at fly-half. Lawes was only one of a mighty Northampton pack, but his lanky dexterity and athleticism made an indelible impression.

Munster’s back division comprised mostly bangers, and Lifeimi Mafi looked out of his depth. So, oddly, did Jean de Villiers, the great Springbok. Yet Munster have begun badly before. The incredible news that Perpignan, the French champions, had gone down in Treviso in the other match in this pool means that anyone writing Munster off may well regret it.

Northampton and Geraghty varied the play cleverly, and the early tactic to hoist the ball above a faltering Munster back three worked well. On one occasion, Keith Earls missed the ball and from one error, Geraghty gave Northampton the lead. Soon afterwards, he helped extend it. Northampton put together a pedigree move with Geraghty holding the baton and the rhinoceros that is Soane Tonga’uiha charging. Geraghty had handled three times before he switched play with a high kick to the right wing, both full-backs missed it and Chris Ashton scored.

Munster came back so well that towards half-time they led 14-11, courtesy of a drop goal by Paul Warwick and an equally well struck penalty from enormous range by Ronan O’Gara. They then scored when they stretched Northampton with a sustained side-to-side move and David Wallace chased a kick ahead by Earls to score.

Northampton were undeterred. Lawes almost obliterated Denis Leamy in pursuit of a Northampton restart and Munster conceded a penalty with which Geraghty levelled. Then, as Northampton attacked in waves near half-time, they were awarded a penalty. Munster half turned away, Geraghty took a quick tap and scuttled over triumphantly to make it 21-14 at the interval.

Northampton then put together another sweeping move, with Lawes and Tonga’uiha driving, and with Northampton’s accomplished centres and Ben Foden injecting pace. When the ball came back one final time, Mafi rushed up way out of line, Geraghty went scorching through the gap and Ashton appeared on his shoulder for his second try.

Northampton came on but were denied another try when the referee failed to penalise Mafi for killing two rucks. Gradually, Munster edged back, proud and indomitable. O’Gara made it tense with two penalties as the Munster driving maul finally found its power, launching Thomas O’Leary over for the try which made it 28-27. But Geraghty kicked a final penalty and somehow, Northampton managed a turnover in the depths of a ruck under their own posts, probably a case of the biter bit, and the final whistle blew.

Northampton move on to Perpignan next weekend. There is no escape in this competition. But there is sporting spectacle and glory, and one of the world’s great rugby towns was no doubt celebrating their team’s glory into the night.

Star man: Shane Geraghty (Northampton)

Scorers: Northampton: Tries: Ashton 17, 45, Geraghty 40 Cons: Geraghty (2) Pens: Geraghty (4)

Munster: Tries: Wallace 25, O’Leary 67 Cons: O’Gara Pens: O’Gara (4) DG: Warwick

Referee: C Berdos (France)

Northampton: B Foden, C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey, B Reihana, S Geraghty, L Dickson (A Dickens 70min); S Tonga’uiha, D Hartley, S Gonzalez Bonorino (B Mujati 58min), C Lawes (I Fernandez Lobbe 67min), J Kruger, P Dowson, N Best, R Wilson

Munster: P Warwick, D Howlett, L Mafi (I Dowling 61min), J de Villiers, K Earls, R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley (T Brugnaut 68min), D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, A Quinlan (D Ryan 65min), D Wallace, D Leamy