A very good Friday evening to you, rugby fans. You’ve stopped in in plenty of time for the sold-out Thomond Park contest between Munster and the touring Maori All Blacks.
Kick-off in Limerick is not until 19.30, so go walk the dog, grab the dinner or a well-eared weekend-starter before Rassie unleashes his men on the black jersey.
If you fancy watching it outside of Thomond Park, you’ll find it on eir Sport…
Here’s how Duncan Williams jersey is looking…
… and here’s the rest of the (pretty exciting) line-ups:
Munster XV: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams: James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; John Madigan, Darren O’Shea; Tommy O’Donnell – capt., Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, Sean O’Connor, John Foley, Te Aihe Toma, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton.
Maori All Blacks: Marty McKenzie; Ambrose Curtis, Matt Proctor, Tim Bateman, James Lowe; Otere Black, Billy Guyton: Kane Hames, Ash Dixon Capt., Ben May; Leighton Price, Tom Franklin; Reed Prinsep, Shane Christie, Akira Ioane.
Replacements: Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Marcel Renata, Whetu Douglas, Kara Pryor, Brad Webster, Ihaia West, Jason Emery.
Conditions in Limerick are most Limerickian – yep, it’s been raining all day and the pitchside pyrotechnics are blazing through the wash as the Maori side come out.
Superb touch from the Maori All Blacks laying a jersey with the initials AF down on the halfway line before they begin their Haka.
No Munster Haka this time around, but another very moving Anthony Foley tribute and captain Ash Dixon presents the jersey to Axel’s sons.
Phew! We’re still gathering ourselves from that pre-match presentation, but the game is on and the conditions are making their presence felt, forcing handling errors and delays in the scrum sets.
Otere Black has an opportunity to test his range from 40 metres. It’s a tough enough angle from the right, and he can’t divert it between the posts.
9 mins: Munster win a free kick off a scrum. Keatley launches it high and the MABs struggle to find the flight of the pill. Unfortunately Tommy O’Donnell can’t quite get a hand on it as he storms forward and Munster are back in their own half.
10 mins: Some terrific pressure coming on from Munster on D. Rory Scannell taking the opportunity to lay a sitting target on the floor.
Touch judge then calls Otere Black for a tackle off the ball and it’s a penalty Munster.
Keatley goes for the corner.
Darren O’Shea takes the line-out and Munster can put pressure on with the maul.
The black d is strong, but Munster force Dixon to tackle the maul on its second shove.
Here we go again.
TRY! Munster 5 Maori All Blacks 0 (N Scannell ’14)
Scannell’s darts have been excellent in the early portion of the game and he rides the red train over the try-line.
Keatley has the conversion from the left… but it just drifts across the posts.
16 mins: Unforced errors are tough to take against opposition like this. Straight from the kick-off Williams box kicks straight in to touch and the visitors have a nice base camp to work from.
YEOW! Andrew Conway rises magnificently in midfield to take a high bomb from the boot of Otere Black. He powers forward after the take and chips ahead. The visitors do well to slide back onto the ball first and Oliver is pinged at the next ruck.
This is terrific from the southern province, using the conditions to put the Kiwis under immense pressure in their own third.
So far the skill-set is holding up though.
Ioane shows that big fend after the visitors look for depth to get away from the suffocating Munster defence.
They go back right and find the hole!
TRY! Munster 5 Maori All Blacks 7 (Lowe ’24)
Otere Black made the gap with a sublime dummy pass right before he sent Lowe storming through the gap on the 22 line. He was caught before the 5m line, but the wet conditions brought him over the line.
TRY! Munster 5 Maori All Blacks 12 (Curtis ’26)
So, so good.
Munster give a loose kick towards midfield and Akira Ioane takes it at pace. McKenzie gives the width out wide, Black gets a hand on the ball to attract a tackler before he puts the other winger away.
Black gets up and kicks the conversion to make it a nine-point gap.
Munster 5 Maori All Blacks 14
TMO! Munster want a penalty try and they just might get it.
It was a thrilling move forward on the right from Munster.
Scannell got his foot to a loose pill before Prinsep and he chopped the centre down…
PENALTY TRY! Munster 12 Maori All Blacks 14
SIN-BIN: Prinsep will not be on the field for the half-time whistle after upending Scannell with the try-line begging
36 mins: It was a slow enough start from the visitors, understandably when you consider their trans-Atlantic travel, but Otere Black really looks to be getting a feel for his tactical kicking. Making the most of big green areas around Thomond Park.
TRY! Munster 17 Maori All Blacks 14 (Sweetnam ’38)
This is turning into a special night in Limerick. A loose pass drifts along the black line. Scannell shoots up and throws a boot at it, but misses. Sweetnam has a little longer to judge the roll and he makes full connection and hares downfield after it.
It was a straight footrace between Sweets and James Lowe, and the hurler-turned-wing burnt off the Kiwi, putting a second, softer touch on the ball before diving on it in the corner.
Half-time: Munster 17 Maori All Blacks 14
41 mins: Another brilliant break from Munster, Copeland goes into full Young Munster mode rampaging down the wing, past Black and then attempts to offload to O’Mahony outside him.
Alas, the pass is behind the wing.
Duncan Williams is off in the sin-bin after a high tackle on James Lowe, but Munster continue to put in a massive effort in defence and were almost -almost – away on an intercept with Keatley, but play was pulled back for the black knock-on instead.
53 mins: Aw, another great take from Conway in the air and another example of Scannell being a complete class act, guiding a left-footed kick from halfway to the left corner. Gorgeous.
56 mins: Fine work from an under-manned Munster, picking and driving their way into range in the MAB 22. Unfortunately the play gradually ground to a halt, and the tourists counter-rucked their way to a penalty which will take them up beyond their own 22.
Stolen!
The Kiwi line-out is malfunctioning again and Oliver skates right after snaffling the loose ball. More Munster pressure.
Another absolutely brilliant counter-rucking effort from the tourists just when Munster might have taken advantage of an overlap. They turn the ball over and kick clear.
Again though, there is no great distance on the clearance and they are stuck on their 22. Munster are back to 15 now too, so time is running out for the MABs.
Wow! That’s extremely harsh on Ronan O’Mahony.
It looked to us that the wing either grounded the ball on the line or was shunted over by team-mates moments after going to ground.
The ref has penalised him for holding on.
This is tremendous from Munster. We’re back wit the TMO after Keatley dipped a fine grubber in behind for O’Mahony and Conway to chase.
James Lowe gets there first, but he pulls it back behind the try-line.
Scrum v, red!
The tension is palpable now as we reach the 65 minute mark and every error seems absolutely critical.
The tourists get the ball back for the first time in what feels like an age, but Ihaia West launches it high and Conway is tackled in the air.
Back come Munster!
TRY! Munster 25 Maori All Blacks 14 (O’Mahony ’68)
Munster are in again! Duncan Williams chips over a deft box kick and O’Mahony takes off in chase of the bouncing ball.
He wants it more, he can taste this famous victory in a packed Thomond Park and he comfortably wins the race to ground the ball.
Keatley steps and and adds the conversion from an extremely difficult touchline angle.
Munster 27 Maori All Blacks 14
This is sensational stuff. Brilliant to watch and even better for the Munster players involved tonight. They’re rubbing shoulders with some extremely highly-rated players from Super Rugby and, bar two breaks in two first half minutes, they have been the dominant force.
With five minutes to go, it’s surely too late for the tourists (surely!) but they are intent on laying late siege on the Munster 22 with Pryor crashing into contact.
Ioane is pinged for his clear-out and Munster can clear their lines and think about celebrating.
Robin Copeland named man of the match by Liam Toland now, but there are so many men who have played superbly in trying conditions.
Andrew Conway set the tone with some great takes in the air, Sweetnam has been a powerhouse out wide, Keatley and Scannell have both provided telling contributions with the boot when needed to and Tommy O’Donnell and Conor Oliver have buzzed around all over the field.
FULL-TIME! Munster 27 Maori All Blacks 14
Ah lads look at the caption on the photo.. ‘tries to get a better view’, he fell on his hole!
Kilgarve and Clancy should be disciplined, but all in Connacht know that wont happen. Disgraceful officiating which the Irfu will stand over
Nothing to do with TMO. He is second to the ref and can only answer the question he is asked.
Maybe…..but we all know the question was incorrect! Diliberate? I’m fairly sure what I think having witnessed Clancy in the past
That’s the 2nd try in an inter pro that went against Connacht by ridiculous refereeing decisions. Why always Connacht!! Wat do we have to do to get a break with the refs
Clancy is a terrible ref, but lam blaming him for the loss is pathetic. Leinster were the better side for 80 minutes, and how Connacht didn’t have at least 2 yellow cards inside 15 minutes is a mystery.
I dont see anyone blaming him for the loss Brian. Perhaps you can point that out? As Connacht fans we are sick and tired of big call after big call going against this team. Its gone beyond farcical. Apart from the try Clancy completely refused to ref the scrum. Connacht killed Leinster on 5 different occasions (3 in kickable positions). Leinster were pushed back and lost their shape completely but he waited and waited until Redden could manage to get his hands on the ball.
Agree Connacht were lucky not to get a yellow in first 15 mins but thats par for the course with most refs. You dont see teams getting the bin until they have been warned a number of times. Especially in the first 20 mins.
I have never seen a referee give a try before that nobody saw grounded (apart from penalty tries).
Brian go home, you’re drunk.
Although that was the wrong call Connacht were never going to win this by giving away 18 penalties and being unable to hold onto ball.
That ref was the worst I ever seen. He gave every little decision to home team. He was shocking and a disgrace and again a wee team come to Dublin and get that. Shame shame on you ref and hope the next time you slip you DONT get up. Shambles. Come on ulster.
Did “every little decision” include not sending any Connacht to the bin in the first 15 minutes despite 5 penalties conceded in your 22?
Leinster were the better team and deserved to win. I really hope Connacht press on for the rest of the season, but the constant bitching about referees every time you lose is tiresome.
Leinster got all the decisions also at thomond park! Different ref same story !
What about constant breakdown penalties not given against leinster? In off feet in from the side and plenty of pushing beyond the ruck which I’m fairly sure isn’t legal.. went on the whole match too
Why is every Connacht loss is greeted by whinging about referees.
“I’m fairly sure isn’t legal”. You are blaming the ref and admitting you don’t know the rules in the same sentence!
Eh hello, what about McCarthy in the same fifteen minutes preventing Connacht players entering ruck from an offside position repeatedly. The Kearney knock on he waved as knock backward then changed his mind, or the scrum it came from where Leinster scrum splintered but no penalty? Nope he did not Ref both sides equally, but the try decision at that stage of the game was criminal for a guy already named for a 6N game. Bet the Welsh and Scots are looking forward to his stewardship of their game, and being talked down to by George…!
Reality is connacht scored 0 you don’t win games from that and before you downvote I’m a Connacht fan
Regardless of the try leinster were the superior team and fully deserved the win.
Ah lads, probably should have been a yellow in the first 20 minutes for Connacht. Leinster probably deserved it despite trying to lose the game at a few points.
Typical! Gotta make sure Connacht don’t knock one of precious provinces or regions out of the champion cup! It’s a conspiracy! Shenanigans!
Eh Spodgy it was Pro12 league game not European cup
As a Leinster fan I have to say a lot of questionable calls went our way, including the Try. Clancy shouldn’t have asked “is there any reason why I can’t award the Try”. Try or no Try should have been the question and we couldn’t see the ball being grounded. But I’ll take it.
Only one team tried to play rugby and do you lot not get tired of blaming ref’s tmo’s the irfu or anyone else when you lose
Yes, we do. We really, really, REALLY are sick of watching game after game being affected by massive, often incorrect, often bizarre ref decisions. That being said as many have said from Connacht, Leinster deserved the win. . . but surely you would be aggrieved too, if 90% of your team’s games involve scenarios like the above, which are almost always externally universally empathised with. If I am being honest, the try decision today barely registered for me on the richter scale of nonsense compared to what I’ve witnessed regarding poor officiating in Connacht games.
Typical clowns on hear siding with with ref. Fact is he leans towards Leinster every time and all who think he does not should cop on. Fact is your team are toothless and and you Irish reps showed that in World Cup. Such a shower of cowards you lenister are and how you proved that in champions cup. Leo Cullen should wise up and leave these sissies and yellow necks to themselves. Rotten cowards fact,
Are you talking about the players who, making up the bulk of the national team, have won back to back six nations for their country – have been consistently the top northern hemisphere side for the past 3 years and are above you in the domestic league? Get a grip and stop whinging. 95% of rugby followers in the country have been delighted with connachts performances over the last 2 seasons – but bitching and moaning is a sure fire at to reverse that.
Cry me a river
@ rogue ref, the only coward around here (not hear) is you hiding behind anonymous profile spouting rubbish about our national team. Back to back 6N champions, topped our group in RWC but fell to a much improved Argentina side when missing key players. Shame on you fool
Rouge those same Leinster players who won HC’s and as such allowed conaught to play their biggest games in their history on these Leinster players coatails. Come back when you qualify for the big competition on your own merits.
It might take a while