Memories, light the corners of my mind

justsomebloke

So with the HEC cup no more, give us your favorite memories from over the years

Buer

BOD scoring late winner away to Bourgoin in 2004: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4MJceJQd4I

Howley with the winner in 2004: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6CQz_gCzJw

First Irish side ever to win it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0l7DU1I3ns

Munster Sale 2006: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3hYVgYE9Ks

And just cause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT35orm5-SE

Deano7788

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hgnYBXMGg0

Easy. The man who never makes a break does so on one of the biggest occasions to give Munster a lead they never lose.

Fireball07

Deano7788 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hgnYBXMGg0

Easy. The man who never makes a break does so on one of the biggest occasions to give Munster a lead they never lose.

This for me too. Won us our first Heineken Cup.




Always liked this moment:

.ak

As recent as it is Sexton's first try in Cardiff 2011 and turning to us in the crowd and everyone losing their ****. Don't think I'll ever experience a final or even cup game like it. We were still behind when he scored that try but we knew we were in for a game. Nobody sat back down in their seat until full time after that.

That game had everything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB4gR7VyD8A

errlloyd

Easy, leinster v saints. I still watch that game from time to time if I need to cheer myself up.

Buer

.ak wrote: »

As recent as it is Sexton's first try in Cardiff 2011 and turning to us in the crowd and everyone losing their ****. Don't think I'll ever experience a final or even cup game like it. We were still behind when he scored that try but we knew we were in for a game. Nobody sat back down in their seat until full time after that.

That game had everything.

Hard to argue with that for a single game. I think the only final in the same breath was the Wasps vs Toulouse game which was probably a better game in many ways. However, the amazing turnaround made 2011 something very special.

I remember we all looked at one another when Sexton went over and we all reckoned we'd win it. The tide had turned and Leinster had shown up finally. I remember very little for the rest of the night!

adrian522

This one for me...

SaveOurLyric

Leinster fan, but, confession : have fond memories of Ulster's 1999 win.

Beating 3 French teams on the trot. Ireland's first winning of it before Leinster were a force, and I dont think the term 'Holy Grail' had even been requisitioned by Munster yet.
It was a good feeling for Irish rugby to be winning something for a change, and the atmosphere in Dublin was excellent (I couldnt get a damn ticket to the game though), with everyone pulling for Ulster to do it - a response that I think many of the Ulster fans did not expect venturing south into papist country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0l7DU1I3ns

Aidric

Fireball07 wrote: »

Always liked this moment:

Same victim but preferred this monster hit by Mafi. Munster were brilliant on the same day, especially Howlett who was everywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAGIpJFRh0s

Diabhal Beag

A result that rocked European rugby and was a big story in the news for the next week.

thomond2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJ65Og3A2o

This was an insane 5 or so minutes!

Taco Corp

What .ak said. And this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7HgpvlLFs

Mostly for the reaction of the crowd.

SaveOurLyric

thomond2006 wrote: »

This was an insane 5 or so minutes!

The best thing about that was this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4FU9SvW-Bk

razorblunt

Munster vs Toulouse in 00.

Munster vs Wasps, wrong result but bloody hell what a game.

Apart from the finals, ROG handing off MOK.

Special mention to the penalty shoutout too.

CatFromHue

There really is so many to list but I'll give it a go

Adedayo Adebayo
Some insanely fast Brive chap
Bath being good
Leinster not making it out of the group stage, Munster (expectedly for Irish teams) losing in France, Ulster winning!!!!!
Tim Stimpson goal kicking
Sitting in every seat in the sitting room at one stage during the Munster Wasps game
The hand of back
Seeing some absolutely huge guy, at least 2m, in Donnybrook playing for Montferrand
David Bory cheap shoting D'arcy as he scored a try
Bourgoin being so confident that they'd beat Leinster the week after they conceeded 90 something points to us, they didn't
Munster beating Toulouse in France
Leinster beating Toulouse in Toulouse
The camera shaking so much as David Humphreys scored the try that beat Toulouse
That sinking feeling in the Munster Leinster 06 game
My bro in law shouting at the Munster fans as they left Croker early in 09
Not being able to get into my local pub in 06 to watch the Munster final as it was too full
Manny Edmonds
Not knowing what to do when Leinster won in 09
Freezing my arse off watching Trevor Brenan's Toulouse win the comp in Dublin.

Bridge93

Leinster v Northampton
Stringer try v Biarritz
Connachts win over Toulouse
Ulsters win in 99
Munsters miracle match v Gloucester
Leinster away in Toulouse
Leinster v Munster Croke Park snd Lansdowne Road
The All Irish final
O Driscoll try v Wasps
Leicester v Cardiff penalty shootout
Poitrenaud's (spelling?) brainfart v Wasps
the drawn final
Trevor Brennan
Bloodgate and the defence that day (a turning point i feel for Leinster rugby)
The Bath pack holding out against Brive
The absolute flyer on the wing for Agen who was round to say the least
Neil Backs hand
Munster v Wasps
Leicester v Stade Francais

There are too many I give trying to name them all. A great competition, we can only hope the new incarnation of it is equally enthralling. I fear money may prevent this though.

Skid X

This.

irishbucsfan

I think the moment I'll always remember most was that QF win in the Stoop. So squeaky.

But also another moment that defined that season was when Contepomi ran over O'Gara at the beginning of the semi final. It really set the tone for that day, which was an awesome day for Leinster fans.

Bridge93

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think the moment I'll always remember most was that QF win in the Stoop. So squeaky.

But also another moment that defined that season was when Contepomi ran over O'Gara at the beginning of the semi final. It really set the tone for that day, which was an awesome day for Leinster fans.

As did a young Sexton roaring in O Gara's face after I think a D'arcy try. Really knew they were up for it and weren't going to be pushed around like before

P_1

In no particular order...

Croker 2009: BOD's try and the blue part of the Hill going ballubas.
Cardiff 2011: Recovering the nerves with Elbow playing across the tannoy.
RDS 2008: Sexton announcing his potential after coming on as a sub against Wasps.
Twickenham 2012: An all-Irish final, need I say any more?

Podge_irl

Doubt I'll ever be at a game I'll enjoy as much as that Harlequins quarter final. It was genuinely something else. An atmosphere the likes of which I don't expect to experience again.

The final against NH was a spectacle though. I don't think I've ever run through quite that gamut of emotions ever before. And likely never again. On the plus side I stocked up on beer for the awful second half. It worked out well

molloyjh

Podge_irl wrote: »

Doubt I'll ever be at a game I'll enjoy as much as that Harlequins quarter final. It was genuinely something else. An atmosphere the likes of which I don't expect to experience again.

The final against NH was a spectacle though. I don't think I've ever run through quite that gamut of emotions ever before. And likely never again. On the plus side I stocked up on beer for the awful second half. It worked out well

Quins was something special. What were they thinking putting us all in the one spot like that. The noise was incredible.

Drico versus Wasps is still one of my all time favourite tries.

Connacht beating Toulouse this season.

Leinsters win over Toulouse in 06 was seriously breathless stuff (Gleeson was a fecking God that day), and then the win in 2011 was a sheer quality game.

Munster in 06 was massive. Remember being in the Goat for it and the place going mental.

The final in Cardiff in 2011.

The march on the stadium in Bordeaux in 2012. Seriously emotional and epic stuff long before kick-off.

The SF in 09. Quins was the turning point for Leinster, but that game against Munster made sure everyone else knew we meant business. And after their thumping of Ospreys in the QF they deservedly had the favourites tag.

bilston

Too many to mention I'll no doubt have to edit this post

Firstly from an Ulster perspective
Ulster winning in 1999, for me this was crucial to the success of he tournament, yes Munster took it onto the next level, but the sight of 50,000 Ulstermen and women (some temporary for the day!) in the final gave an insight into what the tournament could achieve, it did that and hen some in subsequent seasons.

David Humphreys try against Stade Francais in the '99 semi final

Ulster putting in a incredible performance in the Q/F against Toulouse in 98/99 with Andy Ward as ever at the forefront of the challenge only to be called ashore at half time as his first son was being born.

Ulster's win at Thomond Park in 2012 including Gilroy's mesmeric try

Nev's try at the Rec following umpteen phases and his somersault finish in the snow

Trimble's try at the Rec the year before, a wonderful solo

Humph's cheeky try against London Irish, he hadn't actually signalled for the posts for a penalty but everyone assumed that was what he was going to do, at the last second he tapped and ran in unopposed, borderline admittedly but still a memory.

Brennangate, not a positive memory, still unsure why so many fans of other teams were quick to support him.

Getting humped by 40 odd points by Cardiff back in 96 or 97, I only mention it as it shows how far Ulster and the provinces have come since then.

The Ulster team leaving their Dublin hotel ahead of the Edinburgh semi final and getting mobbed by thousands of Ulster fans back in 2012.

General memories

BOD's performance against Bath at the Rec, I don't think it's possible to describe just how good he was. His footwork for Will Green's try, the double dummy for Horgan's try, his own try, just an amazing performance.

The Leicester Stade Francais final in 2001. A great final

Munster Wasps semi final in 2004

The subsequent final between Toulouse and Wasps

The Munster v Leinster semi final in '09

Can't remember the year but Llanelli's agonising defeat to Leicester in the semi final, I think Tim Simpson kicked a last minute penalty which bounced off the crossbar and over.

The penalty shoutout between Cardiff and Leicester

And so it goes on....

iDave

All the best ones mentioned already. But I'd have to say Croke Park 09. Munster fans were so cocky going in to it. All they had to do was turn up. The Irish (Cork) Examiner debuted the ad of a red rubgy figure scoring a try that day after avoiding tackles from blue rugby figures.
It was all set up for another glorious win over the 'ladyboys'.
A lot changed that day.

thomond2006

First player to make 100 Heineken Cup appearances.

umop.episdn

^^^^ who is that?

bilston

Best player of the HEC?

ROG? BOD? Clerc? Any other suggestions?

I'd say ROG. He sums up the HEC for me.

Buer

I think ROG is probably a fair shout. He was the heartbeat of the team that the coverage of the cup was built on.

As an underrated guy, I'd say Bouilhou for Toulouse. 3 winners medals, 4 finals and a massive player for them. He didn't start the 2005 final but came on at half time and was huge for them as SF didn't score another point and Toulouse came from behind to claim the title.

From a selfish perspective, I'd say BOD has been a huge figure in the tournament. He has delivered multiple seminal moments when the chips were down. Time and time again, he stepped up to deliver. The Munster semi in 2009, the drop goal in the 2009 final, the try against Brive for the BP in 2010, the last minute winning try against Bourgoin in 2004, the try against Toulouse in 2006, the entire performance against Bath in 2006 when it was do or die, the offload in the 2012 final, the winning try against Toulouse in 2011. 34 tries in 87 games is a ridiculously good strike rate for a centre.

But, while BOD is the better player, ROG has been a more central figure to the HEC overall.

.ak

Forgot about the Leinster March to the stadium in Bordeaux. As an off the field moment that has to be the best for me.

I must convince my mate to upload the videos he got of that day.

jacothelad

One game that I remember as being great was Toulouse 35 - Ulster 35. Ulster didn't get anywhere that season but what a game.

Quint2010

Cardiff 2011:

"One day like this a year would see me right"

Clareman

For me TP has had some great HEC memories, RoG's kick to start it all against Sarries, the miracle matches, Northampton, etc. But cup rugby will always be about play offs. The 2 semis between Munster and Leinster, first 1 in LR where Musnter got the breaks and won, the second 1 in Croke Park when Leinster got the breaks. The final against Northampton, total heart break, the final against Leicest, didn't really expect to win but we could have, final in 06, ooooh my, final in 08, cementing their legacy.

For me though the trips to France is what made the HEC, going there not expecting to do anything and having the team perform, then you'd almost always meet up with the players afterwards or in the airport or something.

Losty Dublin

It was something you'd expect to see your nephew do at Mini Rugby yet it was far cuter than that....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAfepsoVPtQ

mfceiling

Bloodgate....

That wink.

Buer

mfceiling wrote: »

Bloodgate....

That wink.

mfceiling

Buer wrote: »

I watched that in a non rugby pub, and i remember roaring at the Tele "he's fcuking faking that". Got a few strange looks but it was as obvious as the nose on your face that something was up.

danthefan

My first ever away HEC game was the QF in Toulouse in 2006 so as an experience that was hard to top. The Bloodgate game was pretty amazing to be at too. And of course a certain game in Croke Park in 2009 completely banished the memories of 2006.

Best game I was at - Leinster v Toulouse in 2011
Best try - BOD v Toulouse in 2006
Biggest disappointment - Leinster v Perpignan in 2003

chupacabra

(Just had to re-type all of this as I stupidly mis-clicked and closed the tab ANNNYYYWAAAAAYYYY......)

I cant get passed the memory of Munster winning the Heineken cup in 2006. I was sitting my final exams in the first year of college. Everyone had left the Computer Science test early in order to catch the last bus from the campus into town to watch the game in the pub. I, wanting to save my failing college year, decided to stay later. As a result I missed the last bus to town and had to watch the game in the large common area in the college. Me, 2 security guards and not a single student left.

To cut a long, emotional, typically Munster story short. It ended in tears of joy. My triumphant emotion filling the big common hall. We won. I failed. Who cares. T'was mighty.

freyners

Connacht beating Toulouse away was a moment that will live long but in terms of best memory the final whistle vs Quins at home, breaking that horrible horrible losing run was sweet but showing that we werent out of our depth at that level was huge, changed the mindset of a lot of people from accepting our position to wanting more for their province

dregin

chupacabra wrote: »

(Just had to re-type all of this as I stupidly mis-clicked and closed the tab ANNNYYYWAAAAAYYYY......)

I cant get passed the memory of Munster winning the Heineken cup in 2006. I was sitting my final exams in the first year of college. Everyone had left the Computer Science test early in order to catch the last bus from the campus into town to watch the game in the pub. I, wanting to save my failing college year, decided to stay later. As a result I missed the last bus to town and had to watch the game in the large common area in the college. Me, 2 security guards and not a single student left.

To cut a long, emotional, typically Munster story short. It ended in tears of joy. My triumphant emotion filling the big common hall. We won. I failed. Who cares. T'was mighty.

FYI, ctrl+shift+t re-opens the last closed tab in most browsers.

icdg

SaveOurLyric wrote: »

Leinster fan, but, confession : have fond memories of Ulster's 1999 win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0l7DU1I3ns

Very odd seeing that video, the thought of Heineken Cup coverage on the BBC seems strange now.

Also reminding us that season was the year for the first time, and up until now the only time, the Heineken Cup wasn't the Heineken Cup. We have to get used to a new name again now.

Dave_The_Sheep

In addition to the very many that have been posted before now... this scrum was the high point of that season for me. Skip to 4.37 in case the link doesn't take you to the correct time.

former legend

The 1999 final and Munster's semi final win in 2000 are really great memories but for me it's the semi final in 2009. What an occasion and a performance to match.

Worst memory? Losing to Leicester in the 05 quarter final. We were completely dominated on and off the pitch, horrible day to be a Leinster fan.

awec

2012 was a mixed bag for me. Beating Munster at Thomond and being fortunate enough to have a gift of a semi final only to get demolished in the final by a very much in form Leinster team.

I've said it a few times but I've never watched highlights or anything from the 2012 final - too depressing.

WeleaseWoderick

Plenty of memories of what has been a wonderful competition.

Just off the top of my head:

The whole country getting behind Ulster in their first final

Leinster beating Leicester in Donnybrook in 1999 (my first attendance at a Heineken Cup game)

Munster's trip to the final in 2000 and the agony of ROG's missed kicks

The Hand of Back in 2002

Leinster blowing a chance of a home final against Perpignan in 2003

BOD's last minute winner against Bourgoin

The epic Munster-Wasps Semi Final and equally epic Toulouse-Wasps final

Leinster's abject defeat at home to Leicester in 2005

The whole of the 2006 campaign - BOD's performance away to Bath, Munster's destruction of Sale at home, Leinster's win away in Toulouse, the pain of losing to Munster in the semi, going to Cardiff anyway and being delighted to cheer on Munster in their first win

Shaggy chasing down Geordon Murphy to prevent a losing bonus point score in the RDS in 2007.

The whole of the 2009 campaign - The outclassing of Wasps in the RDS with some BOD magic, the low against Castres away, my first away match in Twickenham and the vital bonus point, the defensive performance against Quins and Bloodgate, the revenge in the epic Croke Park semi and the road trip to Edinburgh for Leinster's first win.

BOD's bonus point score against Brive after Shaggy's flick. An amazing weekend away in Toulouse for the Semi despite the result.

Every single thing about the 2011 and 2012 tournaments under Joe! But particularly the 5 minute spell in the Toulouse game with Healy's break and then Van Der Merve's scrum penalty. The feeling at half time in the Saints final and the polar opposite feeling 40 mins later!

Buer

WeleaseWoderick wrote: »

Shaggy chasing down Geordon Murphy to prevent a losing bonus point score in the RDS in 2007.

That's a personal favourite. I was in the south stand so couldn't appreciate just how far behind Shaggy started. A lot of myths about him not having much gas were put to bed that day.

prospect

Skid X wrote: »

This.

I watched this, as one of about 5 Leinster supporters (or at least, 5 who were willing to advertise that fact!) in a pub in West Cork. What a game that was.

WeleaseWoderick

Buer wrote: »

That's a personal favourite. I was in the south stand so couldn't appreciate just how far behind Shaggy started. A lot of myths about him not having much gas were put to bed that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edxDBi5f26U

Grimebox

Not quite the H-Cup, the Amlin. I still won't forget this. One of BOD's "last ever" retirement moments except it wasn't manufactured at all. It was beautiful day in Dublin and Leinster are playing at their best. The entire stadium starts chanting one more year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhnaNOvmn0

Taco Corp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nYZWwS0xYA

This try from BOD. what a game. So many moments from 2011.