Munster crowned kings of Europe

Munster's bid to win the Heineken Cup at the third attempt met with success at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. The Irish province needed to strain every sinew to dispose of Biarritz Olympique and they duly delivered the goods, recording an epic 23-19 victory that will go down in history as one of rugby's finest team performances.

Flying High: Betsen looks on in horror as Stringer scores

To lose one such final may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose two seems like carelessness - and the watching world could see from the heart that Munster threw at this game that losing three was utterly unthinkable.

Munster, bridesmaids in 2000 and 2002, have finally exorcised their European demons and not even the most ardent Basque would begrudge Anthony Foley's troops their moment in the sun; berets were duly doffed in Cardiff.

There's a children's ditty that talks of the third being the one with the hairy chest, and that sentiment ran true in the Welsh capital on Saturday. Muster wrenched the albatross from their collective neck with a performance of ape-like strength, controlled fury and sheer bloody-mindedness - the kind of performance that would have sent King Kong scuttling up the nearest skyscraper in fearful shame.

Under the closed roof of world rugby's finest arena and in the presence of 74,000 wide-eyed fans, Munster's agonising memories of Heineken Cup final failures against Northampton in 2000 and Leicester two years later were wiped away as the Irish province lifted a trophy they had coveted for so long.

It was obvious in the joyful faces of the Munster players that this victory wasn't the culmination of a season's work, but of a generation's. The likes of Foley, Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara will never need to approach an Irish landlord for personal orders ever again. What a feeling!

First-half tries by South African centre Trevor Halstead and Stinger put Munster in the driving seat after Biarritz wing Sereli Bobo's third-minute touchdown set the tone for a fast-flowing spectacle.

There was an inevitable goal-kicking exchange between O'Gara and the outstanding Dimitri Yachvili, which the Biarritz and France scrum-half shaded 14-13 on points, but Munster - inspired by the dynamic Stringer - consistently kept their noses in front.

Biarritz were in town to spoil a party and challenged the favourites in every area, especially the line-out, yet hopes of emulating previous French Heineken Cup winners Toulouse and Brive were ultimately dashed by Munster's unbreakable spirit and unrelenting commitment.

Neither side, exhausted by the game's punishing physicality, could produce a try in the second period, and a 74th-minute penalty from the dead-eyed O'Gara sealed the deal and send the travelling band of over 50,000 Munster fans into ecstasy.

But Irish hordes were silenced within three minutes of the start as a much-vaunted Biarritz back division made their mark in scintillating style.

Unlike during their respective quarter-final and semi-final victories over Sale Sharks and Bath, Biarritz sought early width, which brought a sparkling reward when centre Philippe Bidabe brushed off John Kelly's weak tackle to send Bobo scampering over.

Referee Chris White awarded the try after a nod from his touch-judge, Dave Pearson, although replays showed Bobo's left foot to be on the line - and therefore in touch. Yachvili's effortless conversion secured a 7-0 lead, before an opening O'Gara penalty strike narrowed the deficit. In fact, neither man missed a kick at goal.

It all meant a pulsating start to the 11th Heineken Cup final, and Biarritz were in no mood to allow Munster's juggernaut pack any threat of early physical dominance.

When Munster secured promising field positions, twice they bravely opted for touch from 30 metres out instead of going for three points. But their tactics reaped a rich reward as a breathless opening quarter neared its conclusion.

The Biarritz defence, unbreachable against Sale and Bath, cracked on 17 minutes when repeatedly recycled possession eventually resulted in Halstead smashing his way across for a try which O'Gara converted from the touchline.

A penalty from Yachvili drew Biarritz level, and with both defences being consistently pummelled, there seemed little doubt that a stamina-sapping contest would take a punishing toll.

Biarritz, expertly mixing their attacking game, were comfortable with ball in hand, but Munster stung them with a sucker-punch try eight minutes before the break.

Munster looked to have their hands full making ground from set-piece ball 20 metres out, yet the Biarritz defence went absent without leave and a disbelieving Stringer sniped unmarked up the blindside, celebrating his try with a belly-flop dive.

O'Gara converted, and then kicked a penalty three minutes into the second period to put Munster 10 points clear.

Biarritz centre Damien Traille predicted during the build-up that his team had a mountain to climb in their quest to deny Munster, but the task was rapidly assuming Himalayan proportions.

Biarritz needed a foothold in the Munster half, and two Yachvili penalties during a three-minute spell - the latter after Munster flank Denis Leamy high-tackled Harinordoquy - suddenly threatened a French revival.

Munster's revered line-out system found itself under pressure, with Imanol Harinordoquy repeatedly challenging the opposition throw, and it took a lengthy O'Gara touch-finder to calm the nerves, taking play into Biarritz's 22.

The unflappable Yachvili slotted his fourth successful penalty 10 minutes from time, setting up a nerve-shredding climax for Munster fans who thought their team were home and dry at 20-10 ahead.

But they kept the faith, their shattered heroes delivered, and the mother of all parties began - in Cardiff, in Limerick, in Cork and in the hearts of Munstermen everywhere.

Man of the match: What an array of choices! Every booted man played his heart out and it's hard to pick out a first from amongst so many equals. But despite the high standards set by all and sundry, a few players put in exceptional performances. For Biarritz, clever Dimitri Yachvili was a picture of grace under pressure and tough Imanol Harinordoquy had his best game of the millennium, if not his life. For Munster, Donnacha O'Callaghan was a match for his illustrious partner, the consistently superb Paul O'Connell; Jerry Flannery was work-rate personified; Trevor Halstead found some choice lines; Anthony Foley showed brave leadership; and Ian Dowling didn't put a foot wrong. But this award must be bestowed on one of the Muster half-backs. Ronan O'Gara guaranteed his berth in the pantheon of greats with a performance that was as cerebral as it was determined, but it is Peter Stringer who gets our vote - the little scrum-half had a huge game. Tenacious, quick-witted, iron-willed and willing to punch well above his weight, Stringer was a thorn in the side of every Biarritz attack and his try-scoring performance deserves to be immortalised in song. And given the ardour of the Munster faithful, who would bet against that happening?

Moment of the Match: For all the heart and nerve that went into this game, one moment stands head and shoulders about everything - the final whistle. Three shrill notes that unleashed a veritable tsunami of elation, relief and heart-break.

Villain of the match: How could we sully such a fine game with this vile gong? Yet there were a few contenders. The wearer of the size 12 boot that left an imprint on Paul O'Connell's chest, the man who was attached to the arm that almost decapitated Imanol Harinordoquy, the owner of the head that nearly gave Jerry Flannery's missus a heart-attack, and the bearer of the flag that didn't lurch skyward as Sereli Bobo gave a very passable impression of a man edging across Niagara Falls on a highwire.

The scorers:

For Biarritz Olymique:
Try: Bobo
Con: Yachvili
Pens: Yachvili 4

For Munster:
Tries: Halstead, Stringer
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pens: O'Gara 3

The teams:

Biarritz Olympique: 15 Nicolas Brusque, 14 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 13 Philippe Bidabe, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Sereli Bobo, 10 Julien
Peyrelongue, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Thomas Lièvremont (capt), 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 David Couzinet, 4 Jerome Thion, 3 Census Johnson, 2 Benôit August, 1 Petru Vladimir Balan.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Noirot, 17 Benôit Lecouls, 18 Olivier Olibeau, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Manuel Carizza, 21 Julien Dupuy, 22
Frederico Martin Arramburu.

Munster: 15 Shaun Payne, 14 Anthony Horgan, 13 John Kelly, 12 Trevor Halstead, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley (capt), 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Federico Pucciariello, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Tomas O'Leary, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Rob Henderson.

Referee: Chris White (England)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson, Tony Spreadbury (both England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)

By Andrew Baldock and Andy Jackson