Video: Munster fans, take some inspiration from great victories over Clermont in the past

Not many people give Munster a chance of causing an upset in Montpellier today, but you can never rule them out and a glance back at the last game between the two sides might just provide some hope.

Odds of 11/2 on Munster and 1/7 on Clermont suggests that Munster are going to have to pull off one of their customary miracles to prevail in France this afternoon, but Rob Penney’s men were widely expected to fall at Harlequins’ sword in the quarter-finals and look what happened.

Clermont are deserving favourites, are packed with talent and have been by far and away the best team in the competition so far, but if Munster can upset their rhythm, if they can produce a team performance as good as the one they delivered in the Stoop and if Paul O’Connell can stand above the rest once again, who knows what might happen?

The thousands of Munster fans making the trip south today will believe that their heroes can do it and although things have changed a lot since then, a look back at the last meeting between the sides in Thomond Park in 2008, when the hosts triumphed 23-13, might act as a source of inspiration for those struggling to think that it can indeed be done.

Below is the dust-up between Paul O’Connell and Jamie Cudmore – who will no doubt renew acquaintances once again this afternoon – and below that again is footage of the clash between the sides a year previously, when Munster enjoyed a 36-13 victory over the Top 14 outfit.

Video via YouTube/munstersabu

Video via YouTube/Conor Ryan

It can be done.