Munster 17
Lions 10
Kevin Fallon reports from Thomond Park
MUNSTER KICKED off the post-Graham Rowntree era with a badly needed URC win over a battling Lions side at Thomond Park.
In the process, they prevented a fourth successive league loss for the first time in 20 years, but they were made to battle by a Lions side on their first visit to Limerick.
The Lions defence was strong and dealt with the early onslaught but Munster finally found a way through after 15 minutes when Thaakie Abrahams scored his first try for the province since his summer move from Lyon.
The South African created the move after being put away by Alex Nankivell. While the Lions got back to smother him, Munster kept the ball alive and continued to attack inside the 22. When the ball came back to Abrahams he bustled his way through the tackles of Marius Louw and Kade Wolhuter to score, with Billy Burns adding the extras.
But the Lions refused to be rattled and while Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen led a good defence to deny them after Abrahams was nabbed following a good kick from Wolhuter, the South Africans grew in confidence.
They were strong in the scrum and then struck 12 minutes from the break when a jinking run from Henco van Wyk ended with a superb try when he escaped seven tackles. While it was a quality score, the Munster review will make for painful viewing.
Wolhuter added the conversion to tie the sides and he edged them in front four minutes later when another break from van Wylk stretched the home cover and the out-half landed a penalty from 40 metres to lead 10-7 at the break.
Munster hit back two minutes after the restart. Once again Abrahams was in the instigator, doing well to retain possession in the tackle down the right before sending Shane Daly, an interval replacement for full-back Mike Haley, away for his 20th try for the province but Burns pulled the conversion wide.
The try lifted Munster and with league debutants Evan O’Connell, playing in the second row where his uncle Paul inspired the province for years, and short-term signing Dian Bleuler making an impact in the front row, they pushed forward.
The pressure eventually told — Alex Kendellen got in to score on 54 minutes after O’Connell was denied a debut try.
Burns missed conversion from the left, so the lead was just seven points going into the final quarter.
The Lions pressed forward and looked set to score when they mounted a 12-phase move inside the home 22. But it ended when Abrahams managed to intercept a pass with a boot to mount a counter-attack from deep, which came to nothing, after a couple of hacks.
Munster dug in defensively as the Lions, who lost their winning start to the season last time out against Leinster in Dublin, piled on the pressure in a bid to save the game.
Yet the visitors had to settle for a bonus point as Munster maintained an unbeaten record against South African teams in Thomond Park.
Now the focus switches to the Champions Cup and the visit of Stade Francais to Thomond Park next weekend.
Munster: Mike Haley (Shane Daly 41), Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams, Billy Burns (Tony Butler 61), Ethan Coughlan (Paddy Patterson 52), Dian Bleuler (Kieran Ryan 68), Diarmuid Barron (c) (Niall Scannell 60), John Ryan (Stephen Archer 56), Evan O’Connell (Ruadhán Quinn 71), Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen (John Hodnett 56), Gavin Coombes.
Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk (Erich Cronje 70), Marius Louw (c), Edwill van der Merwe (Tapiwa Mafura 74), Kade Wolhuter (Sanele Nohamba 45), Morne van den Berg, Juan Schoeman (Morgan Naude 56), PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Conraad van Vuuren 56), Ruben Schoeman (Reinhard Nothnagel 58), Ruan Delport, Jarod Cairns, WJ Steenkamp (JC Pretorius 70), Francke Horn
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales).
Good win for Munster. IMO Coombes should be in an Ireland squad as a second row. He is just too good a player to ignore. He is a constant ball carrier in the tight areas regularly getting over the gain line. In fact he maybe better than big Joe in that aspect.
@Tom Reilly: I am a massive Coombes fan, his ability to get over the gainline from static ball is exceptional. I think he lacks the speed to play as an 8 at international level but would be considered a fast 2nd row. Dies he have the height though?
@Scott: 6-6 same height as Tadgh Beirne and he manages better than most.
@Scott: Of course he has the height. He is around 6ft 6ins. He is very strong and rarely looses ball in contact. Ireland has serious lack of depth at SR. Evan O’Connell is probably the best of the young lads but IMO Coombes physically and experience wise is way ahead.
@TL55: After watching him live a few times I honestly thought that Coombes was 6 3″/6 4″. That’s a perfect height for international 2nd row, according to the 42 joe mccarthy is 6 5″ so Gav has even more height. However I dont see him wanting to move to the row unless gleeson takes his starting spot
@Tom Reilly: talking of SR depth, edwin edogbo was coming along nicely before his injury. He has serious grunt and power and has the extra experience of playing in the row for a number of years compared to Gav, however saying that I don’t think he could match Coombes power in the carry. Moving to tge 2nd row could give Coombes his best chance of breaking into the ire squad as hendo is aging out, baird is a 6 and ryan is solid without being spectacular
@Scott: Edogbo and Ahern are good prospects as SRs but both are pure novices while Coombes is a battle hardened lad. IMO a fit Edogbo has the highest ceiling of them all.
@Tom Reilly: Coombes has way more game time and experience for sure, however he has only a handful of games playing 2nd row so unless he makes a switch soon I can’t see him developing the necessary experience in order to push on for ire. Massive fan of edogbo, also hoping his brother Sean keeps developing and does the business for munster.
@Scott: IMO I would say it would be easier for a back row to transition into a SR than for a SR to do the opposite . But look at Beirne. If he can do it why not Coombes in an easier opposite direction.
@Tom Reilly: Edogbo could be our Itoje, his ceiling is huge. hopefully he stays injury free. Very excited about Ahern too, he’s an absolute tank but even with my munster hat on its very difficult to see Coombes ahead of Ryan, VDF, Dorris, Conan. We’re blessed in the back 5 as a nation, unfortunately for Coombes..
@Tom Reilly: henderson did it as well so iv no doubt if Coombes was given a season at 2nd row he would be a success, however aside from gleeson we don’t have anyone else ready to play 8 so I can’t see Coombes playing much 2nd row (unless we have a crippling injury crises which never happens to us lol)
@Tom Reilly: Ryan and McCarthy didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory in November, Coombes , Ahern and Treadwell should be looked at for 6N
@Scott: I am not sure about that. With both Edogbo’s breathing down his neck, I think he would stand a better chance batting for a place in the squad as a dynamic ball carrying 6. Whilst he has power, he is not at Joe McCarthy / Edwin / Sean Edogbo level. Ryan Baird & Cormac Izuchukwu are next in line to replace Ian Henderson with Evan being just one of many young lads coming up through the ranks. We are OK in the row. I would be more worried about both prop position and scrum half. Gibson Park showed signs of slowing this autumn and whilst Casey did very well, who will back him up – especially come the next world cup. Nathan Doak just cannot get picked for an Ireland squad for some reason. Ben Murphy and Fintan Gunne need alot more time.
@Paul Ennis: doak’s style is reminiscent of conor Murray, a controlling 9. With the new kicking laws that style of 9 might become more popular again however at present I think his speed of decision making as well as threat with the ball have stopped him from getting into ire squads. A 9 who I think could make the ire squad in the next 1 to 2 years is Matthew Devine, I know he has to work on his passing and kicking but he has crazy speed and can create an individual moment of magic out of nothing
@Scott: I hope E. Edogbo and Ahern’s injury profiles improve as it has been holding them back. Coombes has been fairly robust up to now (fingers crossed). Having a player that can cover 2nd and BR is a positive and that would probably his only route into and Irish squad. As a pure 8, he’s a lot af competition
Important win for munster well deserved
@Shanie: Important win for us yes; well deserved questionable. Missed tackles and handling errors off the scale. We will need to be way better if we’re to make the knockouts. Hopefully the players gain a bit of confidence from tonight.
@TL55: Still have a lot of injures but at least its a start the irish lads returning as well looking forward to the champions cup
Well done Munster, a great result considering all those that were absent.
Great result and excellent performance. It gives a real chance of turning the season around
We can’t play lions rugby on these slow pitches with that oval bar of soap. Lions rugby is for the sunny highveld. Mark my words, we will be the first SA side to beat Munster in thomond park damnit!!! ” next time”….see you then :)
@Stuart: Worst I’ve seen lions play for some time. Munster were there for the taking. The URC teams will need to up their game big time with the Champions Cup and Challenge cup on the horizon.
@Ray Ridge: Australia by 40 bro
@Ray Ridge: Go count the votes
@Stuart: concrete pitch rugby Stu …
Not this spongy grass pitch
@damien reidy: exactly ….
@Gary Galligan: Australia moved up ahead of ireland now after todays game lol
@Ray Ridge: sometimes a win is achieved because one team plays better. Munster were under strength and got a good win. Leave it that you absolute bollox …
Will take that, scrappy tho, Nankavill had one to forget, guilty maybe of being a bit over eagar. Daly was solid and Abrahams came thru, showed some great pace. Was worried for second row, EoC got a good shift in, already at the level of Whicherly. Tom Farell continues to impress, what a steal he’s been so far. I guess Fitzy and SoB are injured? Take the win in these early post-International games. Stad having a horrible time in the Top 14 atm, I take it the Irish contingent will be available next week?