Munster go top with impressive win
RUGBY: Guinness Pro12 Round 11
Munster 28
Leinster 13
Munster gave their fans the perfect Christmas present as they outplayed great rivals Leinster in another engrossing derby clash to go top of the Guinness Pro12 on St Stephen’s Day.
The home side were even more convincing than the final scoreline suggests with the forwards playing the platform, making the hard yards and as they game wore on, the number of tackles being made took its toll on Leinster who were a well-beaten side.
Despite both sides being without key Irish internationals due to the IRFU’s Player Management Policy, including Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo for Munster, the game started at a decent pace with both sides trading converted penalties in the opening six minutes but the early stages were cagey with field position the early order of the day.
The first sustained period of pressure came from Munster in the 13th minute with the forwards making hard yards through the middle. Following a brief hold up for a head injury which forced Leinster’s Dominic Ryan out of the match with a concussion, the Munster forwards continued their assault from the resultant scrum with a shirtless CJ Stander crossing for the opening unconverted try.
It took Leinster a good 25 minutes to have a sustained period in the Munster half but they never really threatened the try line, although Ian Madigan did reduce the deficit with a 28th minute penalty.
Keatley would add to his tally before Madigan missed a pretty scoreable effort by his standards and that was how the scoring ended in the opening half despite Munster having another lengthy attacking phase which ended with nothing to show for their efforts.
Munster’s ability to make yards through quacking rucking and carries around the fringes final paid off five minutes into the second half when a sublime quick pass from Ian Keatley put Andrew Conway in for a well-worked try which Keatley converted.
Leinster’s hopes took a further hit in the 54th minute when wing Darragh Fanning was sin-binned for coming in from the side with Munster building up another head of steam inside the 22. It looked a little harsh as the ball looked to have come out the back of the ruck. Ian Keatley converted the penalty but missed another just on the hour mark from half way as Munster got a great hit at the scrum.
The home fans didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead as impressive substitute Dave O’Callaghan crossed for a deserved 63rd minute try after more impressive play around the fringes by the Munster forwards.
Leading 28-6 following Keatley’s conversion, Munster weren’t in the mood to allow Leinster any consolation but the visitors finally breached the line with seven minutes remaining as Jack Conan’s off-loaded to Shane Jennings to score with Madigan adding the extras.
There was still plenty to play for going into the final ten minutes with both sides chasing respective bonus-points. Munster came close on a couple of occasions, most notably when Billy Holland was called back despite running in from half way but referee Nigel Owens spotted an infringement at the lineout.
In the end, Munster completed a season double over their great rivals to end a three game losing run as they head west to face Connacht on New Years day.
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: CJ Stander (Munster)
Scorers – Munster: Tries: Stander, Conway; Dave O’Callaghan Convs: Keatley (2) Pens: Keatley (3)
Leinster: Try: Jennings; Conv: Madigan; Pens: Madigan (2)
Munster: Felix Jones; Andrew Conway, Pat Howard, Denis Hurley, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland; CJ Stander, Tommy O’Donnell, Robin Copeland.
Reps: Paddy Butler for Copeland (27 inj); Dave O’Callaghan for O’Donnell (52 inj); JJ Hanrahan for Hurley (59 inj); BJ Botha for Archer (59); Eusebio Guinazu for Ryan (64); Kevin O’Byrne for Casey (66); Johne Murphy for Jones (71); Neil Cronin for Williams (77).
Leinster: Zane Kirchner; Darragh Fanning, Luke Fitzgerald, Gordon D’Arcy, Dave Kearney; Ian Madigan, Isaac Boss; Michael Bent, Richardt Strauss, Tadhg Furlong; Mike McCarthy, Kane Douglas; Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Jack Conan.
Reps: Jordi Murphy for Ryan (15 inj); Jimmy Gopperth for Fanning (64); Luke McGrath for Boss (64); Aaron Dundon for Strauss (71); Tom Denton for McCarthy (71).
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)