MARSEILLE // Munster hope the record-setting experience of 11 European Cup semi-finals will help derail the galacticos of defending champions Toulon in Sunday’s last-four showdown at Marseille.
The Irish side, champions in 2006 and 2008, have revenge on their minds having lost 26-9 the last time the two teams met in the tournament in 2011.
But they face a daunting task against a Toulon side bolstered by a pair of all-time great backs in Jonny Wilkinson and Bryan Habana.
“It’s going to be very tough, but that’s what the competition is at this stage,” said Paul O’Connell, the Munster and Ireland veteran lock. “Toulon have incredible talent all across the team. They have recruited really well – world-class players that love living in Toulon and playing for Toulon. When you see the way they play it’s an incredibly tough task for us.”
Munster have lost their past three European Cup semi-finals but, with Toulon missing key forwards Ali Williams and Bakkies Botha, O’Connell said his side can end that sequence despite the match taking place in France. Toulon will be bidding to go one better than last season by completing a Top 14-European Cup double after falling in the 2013 domestic final to Castres.
Habana, who has endured a stop-start career in France, believes the double is still on for Toulon.
“We are definitely going all out on both fronts,” he told Britain’s Daily Telegraph. “If you want to be part of a club that can create history you have got to lay everything down on the line.”
Munster will field a player who could have slipped comfortably into any French side had family history taken a different path. Wing Simon Zebo has an Irish mother but his father, Arthur, was born in the French overseas region of Martinique.
Arthur Zebo was an accomplished 800-metre runner, who was set to represent France at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal before injury curtailed his dreams.
“Simon is an artist, not the typical Irish player. He has a lot of the French in him,” Munster backs coach Simon Mannix joked.
The winners of the match will face English club Saracens in the final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on May 24. Saracens beat French side Clermont Auvergne 46-6 on Saturday.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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What are the regulations?
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West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE%20FIXTURES
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
