THIS HAD THE feel of the good old days about it, in the atmosphere at least. Munster fans have not been accustomed to losing streaks at Thomond Park in the professional era, but this 24-7 defeat makes it three on the bounce at the Limerick venue for Anthony Foley’s men.
Eoin Reddan competes with Munster fullback Andrew Conway. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The contest had an important feel around it, far from a simple Guinness Pro12 fixture. With Joe Schmidt watching on, there were international tussles all over the place, while both provinces were acutely aware of the need to get back to winning ways.
The pressure on Munster and Foley only mounts after their fifth loss in a row, and the same old issues were highly prevalent again.
Despite a change of personnel, Munster’s halfbacks failed to impose themselves on the game, while their struggles to convert visits into the opposition 22 into scores was costly. There was even another missed penalty from straight in front of the posts.
Leinster, in contrast, finally began to look like a team full of highly-experienced internationals. Jamie Heaslip was masterful at number eight, while the returning Sean O’Brien was brilliant.
20-year-old Garry Ringrose has the look of a man who will be joining the likes of Heaslip and O’Brien in the international arena sooner rather than later.
Within a minute of the kick-off, Munster fans were delivering a rousing ‘Stand Up and Fight,’ just after James Cronin, Dave Foley and Donnacha Ryan had forced a turnover with a muscular choke tackle.
Indeed, the atmosphere was outstanding throughout as the team battered into contact with a refreshing dose of aggression. That said, there was a stunned silence when Leinster struck with a stunning counter-attacking score in the fourth minute.
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Ringrose superbly created Leinster's first try. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
A break from Scannell had allowed Munster deep into the Leinster half to apply pressure, but Jamie Heaslip enveloped the ponderous Tomás O’Leary beside a ruck, leading to Dominic Ryan completing the turnover on the deck.
What followed from Leinster against a disorganised Munster defence was textbook. Madigan and O’Brien fixed defenders and passed accurately to Garry Ringrose, who stunningly burned outside Foley, swerved around Jack O’Donoghue.
His 45-metre run ended by drawing in final defender Andrew Conway and feeding Isa Nacewa to dot down under the sticks. Madigan converted for 7-0.
Munster’s place-kicking woes continued as Scannell somehow missed from straight in front soon after, Madigan then showing his value by slamming over a 30-metre penalty from wide on the right to extend the Leinster lead.
Though the carrying was ferocious from Munster – injury replacement Dave Kilcoyne making a particular impact – they were stunted by the slow delivery of O’Leary, and the familiar lack of a clinical edge afflicted them throughout the half.
Errors in the opposition 22 were costly again, although home fans felt referee David Wilkinson was heavily favouring the visitors. One instance saw Foley penalised for what the match officials perceived to be a dangerous clearout attempt as Heaslip looked to pilfer possession.
Munster continued knocking on the door looking for an important try, Keith Earls sustaining a serious injury in the 35th minute as he offloaded to Francis Saili. A long delay ensued as the Limerick man was treated for a blow to the head/neck, and he got a huge reception when he finally was stretchered off.
Keith Earls was treated for a worrying injury in the first half. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Foley’s men were held up over the tryline just before that sobering injury, with Mike Sherry coming up short, before they were again denied when Saili was held up upon the resumption of play.
Robin Copeland finally burst through under the posts just before the half-time break, although Eoin Reddan very nearly frustrated Munster for a third time by getting underneath the ball.
The TMO confirmed the score, Scannell converted and suddenly Munster were in a far stronger position heading into the break. An early penalty in the second period appeared to offer a chance for Foley’s side to level the score, but they opted instead to kick to the corner.
After illegally sacking Munster’s first maul attempt, Leinster repelled the second superbly, before Sean O’Brien brilliantly won a turnover penalty after Bleyendaal carried near the posts.
The Kiwi out-half coughed up possession on Munster’s very next attack too, launching a poor cross-field kick attempt that ended with O’Brien winning another superb penalty at the breakdown.
Madigan showed Bleyendaal exactly how to do it just three minutes later, as the Leinster out-half dinked a sublime diagonal wide to the left for Isa Nacewa to gather on the move. The eastern province recycled after Nacewa was hauled down, Tadhg Furlong carrying before Jack McGrath powered over the tryline.
The TMO was called on again to confirm, before Madigan sent Leinster 17-7 ahead with another smart kick from the tee.
Tommy O'Donnell made his comeback for Munster. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Munster still had a quarter of the game to redeem themselves and end their losing streak, but they continued to be utterly profligate in the Leinster 22. The defensive shift from the visitors was superb, led by Heaslip so often, but this was utter frustration once again for the Munster faithful.
A miserable evening ended with an intercept try for Leinster fullback Zane Kircher, who picked off Saili’s long pass and sprinted home from 50 metres out.
Unless Munster can find their attacking composure very swiftly, their season will end in ruins.
Munster scorers:
Tries:Robin Copeland
Conversions:Rory Scannell (1 from 1)
Penalties: Rory Scannell (0 from 1)
Leinster scorers:
Tries:Isa Nacewa, Jack McGrath, Zane Kirchner
Conversions:Ian Madigan (3 from 3)
Penalties: Ian Madigan (1 from 1)
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls (Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino ’35), Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Tyler Bleyendaal (Denis Hurley ’59), Tomás O’Leary (Duncan Williams ’59); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne ’20), Mike Sherry (Niall Scannell ’65), John Ryan (Mario Sagario ’72); Dave Foley (Billy Holland ’62), Donnacha Ryan; Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue (Tommy O’Donnell ’59), CJ Stander (capt.).
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath (Cian Healy ’56) (McGrath ’75), Sean Cronin (James Tracy ’56), Tadhg Furlong (Marty Moore ’56); Devin Toner, Tom Denton (Ross Molony ’59); Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien (Josh van der Flier ’71), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements not used: Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Dave Kearney.
Leinster return to form as Foley's Munster lose in Thomond Park again
Munster 7
Leinster 24
Murray Kinsella reports from Thomond Park
THIS HAD THE feel of the good old days about it, in the atmosphere at least. Munster fans have not been accustomed to losing streaks at Thomond Park in the professional era, but this 24-7 defeat makes it three on the bounce at the Limerick venue for Anthony Foley’s men.
The contest had an important feel around it, far from a simple Guinness Pro12 fixture. With Joe Schmidt watching on, there were international tussles all over the place, while both provinces were acutely aware of the need to get back to winning ways.
The pressure on Munster and Foley only mounts after their fifth loss in a row, and the same old issues were highly prevalent again.
Despite a change of personnel, Munster’s halfbacks failed to impose themselves on the game, while their struggles to convert visits into the opposition 22 into scores was costly. There was even another missed penalty from straight in front of the posts.
Leinster, in contrast, finally began to look like a team full of highly-experienced internationals. Jamie Heaslip was masterful at number eight, while the returning Sean O’Brien was brilliant.
20-year-old Garry Ringrose has the look of a man who will be joining the likes of Heaslip and O’Brien in the international arena sooner rather than later.
Within a minute of the kick-off, Munster fans were delivering a rousing ‘Stand Up and Fight,’ just after James Cronin, Dave Foley and Donnacha Ryan had forced a turnover with a muscular choke tackle.
Indeed, the atmosphere was outstanding throughout as the team battered into contact with a refreshing dose of aggression. That said, there was a stunned silence when Leinster struck with a stunning counter-attacking score in the fourth minute.
A break from Scannell had allowed Munster deep into the Leinster half to apply pressure, but Jamie Heaslip enveloped the ponderous Tomás O’Leary beside a ruck, leading to Dominic Ryan completing the turnover on the deck.
What followed from Leinster against a disorganised Munster defence was textbook. Madigan and O’Brien fixed defenders and passed accurately to Garry Ringrose, who stunningly burned outside Foley, swerved around Jack O’Donoghue.
His 45-metre run ended by drawing in final defender Andrew Conway and feeding Isa Nacewa to dot down under the sticks. Madigan converted for 7-0.
Munster’s place-kicking woes continued as Scannell somehow missed from straight in front soon after, Madigan then showing his value by slamming over a 30-metre penalty from wide on the right to extend the Leinster lead.
Though the carrying was ferocious from Munster – injury replacement Dave Kilcoyne making a particular impact – they were stunted by the slow delivery of O’Leary, and the familiar lack of a clinical edge afflicted them throughout the half.
Errors in the opposition 22 were costly again, although home fans felt referee David Wilkinson was heavily favouring the visitors. One instance saw Foley penalised for what the match officials perceived to be a dangerous clearout attempt as Heaslip looked to pilfer possession.
Munster continued knocking on the door looking for an important try, Keith Earls sustaining a serious injury in the 35th minute as he offloaded to Francis Saili. A long delay ensued as the Limerick man was treated for a blow to the head/neck, and he got a huge reception when he finally was stretchered off.
Foley’s men were held up over the tryline just before that sobering injury, with Mike Sherry coming up short, before they were again denied when Saili was held up upon the resumption of play.
Robin Copeland finally burst through under the posts just before the half-time break, although Eoin Reddan very nearly frustrated Munster for a third time by getting underneath the ball.
The TMO confirmed the score, Scannell converted and suddenly Munster were in a far stronger position heading into the break. An early penalty in the second period appeared to offer a chance for Foley’s side to level the score, but they opted instead to kick to the corner.
After illegally sacking Munster’s first maul attempt, Leinster repelled the second superbly, before Sean O’Brien brilliantly won a turnover penalty after Bleyendaal carried near the posts.
The Kiwi out-half coughed up possession on Munster’s very next attack too, launching a poor cross-field kick attempt that ended with O’Brien winning another superb penalty at the breakdown.
Madigan showed Bleyendaal exactly how to do it just three minutes later, as the Leinster out-half dinked a sublime diagonal wide to the left for Isa Nacewa to gather on the move. The eastern province recycled after Nacewa was hauled down, Tadhg Furlong carrying before Jack McGrath powered over the tryline.
The TMO was called on again to confirm, before Madigan sent Leinster 17-7 ahead with another smart kick from the tee.
Munster still had a quarter of the game to redeem themselves and end their losing streak, but they continued to be utterly profligate in the Leinster 22. The defensive shift from the visitors was superb, led by Heaslip so often, but this was utter frustration once again for the Munster faithful.
A miserable evening ended with an intercept try for Leinster fullback Zane Kircher, who picked off Saili’s long pass and sprinted home from 50 metres out.
Unless Munster can find their attacking composure very swiftly, their season will end in ruins.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls (Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino ’35), Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Tyler Bleyendaal (Denis Hurley ’59), Tomás O’Leary (Duncan Williams ’59); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne ’20), Mike Sherry (Niall Scannell ’65), John Ryan (Mario Sagario ’72); Dave Foley (Billy Holland ’62), Donnacha Ryan; Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue (Tommy O’Donnell ’59), CJ Stander (capt.).
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath (Cian Healy ’56) (McGrath ’75), Sean Cronin (James Tracy ’56), Tadhg Furlong (Marty Moore ’56); Devin Toner, Tom Denton (Ross Molony ’59); Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien (Josh van der Flier ’71), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements not used: Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Dave Kearney.
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU).
Official attendance: 26,500.
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