Wasps 14
Munster 35
NOBODY, BUT NOBODY, does it like Munster.
At one stage a fortnight ago, there were worries that the southern province might not be able to field a team for this European clash. In the end, they were rampant at times as their supporters took over Coventry.
A first-half red card for Wasps captain Brad Shields helped, as did the English club losing four starting players from their starting XV to Covid-19 at a late stage having already been badly injury-hit, but Munster had to deal with their own enormous disruption in the build-up to this bonus-point win.
Missing 34 senior players and their entire senior coaching staff, Munster academy boss Ian Costello’s gang of seasoned internationals and thrilling young guns produced another memorable European performance in front of a crowd that seemed to be made up of more visiting fans than home ones.
The fresh-faced debutants had days to remember, including 19-year-old fullback Patrick Campbell gliding home for a try just two years after he was helping Cork to a minor All-Ireland football title.
There was 19-year-old number eight Daniel Okeke barrelling past defenders, 21-year-old hooker Scott Buckley – who was player of the match – getting in on the try-scoring act, and Waterford man Eoin O’Connor showing his promise in the second row, while James French fought hard at tighthead as Wasps put massive pressure on in the scrum.
There were also debuts off the bench for Mark Donnelly, Declan Moore, Conor Moloney, John Forde, Jonathan Wren, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler – who replaced Joey Carbery after what appeared to be a bad shoulder injury suffered in a late tackle.
22-year-old openside flanker John Hodnett, making his first Munster start for 13 months after overcoming Achilles and ankle injuries, showed exactly why he is rated as a major prospect in Irish rugby as he contributed to the Irish side’s breakdown dominance.
In truth, though, this was as much about Munster’s senior men delivering. Captain Peter O’Mahony, second row Tadhg Beirne, centre Damian de Allende, scrum-half Conor Murray were all immense.
Experienced wing pair Keith Earls and Andrew Conway notched a try each, while Chris Farrell had some calming moments in midfield, Dave Kilcoyne carried hard from loosehead, and Carbery contributed 15 points from the tee.
This really couldn’t have worked out much better for Munster after all they have gone through over the last two weeks – the uncertainty and the setbacks.
They backed the bodies that were left standing and Costello deserves great credit for readying the fresh faces for this win, which nicely tees up Munster’s home clash with Castres at Thomond Park next Saturday.
The six-day turnaround is a new challenge and it remains to be seen how many of the players who have just completed self-isolation back in Ireland will be involved. If this team needs to go again, they have shown their quality and appetite for the fight.
The Fields of Athenry rang out around the Coventry Building Society Arena in the first minute of action as the game started in a frenetic fashion that never left up.
Munster needed a remarkable try-saving tackle from captain O’Mahony in the left corner as early as the third minute after a scything break by Thomas Young nearly produced the opening score.
Instead, Munster notched the first points as Carbery slotted three off the tee when Wasps came offside soon after a big de Allende turnover penalty at the breakdown.
Wasps out-half Jimmy Gopperth struck the post soon after with a penalty of his own, then Munster needed some huge tryline defence to hold out the hosts. Buckley, Murray, O’Mahony, O’Connor, and Beirne combined to stop the Wasps five-metre maul effort and force a knock-on.
Sam Wolstenholme was a lively presence at scrum-half for the English team and he threatened in the 19th minute as the quick-tapped and grubber-kicked behind into the Munster 22 only for the ball to agonisingly roll into touch.
Wasps’ scrum was doing damage, winning two penalties, but Munster openside Hodnett was having a big influence too as he struck twice at the defensive breakdown for vital turnovers.
In between, there was a wild passage of play as Carbery spilled the ball in Wasps’ 22, Zach Kibirige hacked it ahead and Earls had to get on his bike to prevent them from going the distance. But play was brought back as TMO identified Shields’ high tackle on Kilcoyne, for which he was red-carded – a call that felt harsh.
Carbery managed to hit the post with the straightforward penalty but he was on target a minute later after Beirne won a breakdown turnover.
Munster led 6-0 against the 14 men but they conceded next. It was another wonderfully wild passage of play as O’Mahony and Beirne broke out of Munster’s 22 before Young returned fire for Wasps, dinking the ball in ahead and helping to earn a turnover that Wolstenholme swing wide to the right, where centre Michael Le Bourgeois offloaded back inside for number eight Alfie Barbeary, who stepped past Campbell to score.
Gopperth converted but the lead lasted barely four minutes. Beirne’s turnover penalty gave Munster access into the 22, they battered their way to a penalty advantage and scrum-half Murray dinked a chip into the Wasps’ in-goal area with the outside of his right boot.
The home defence seemingly had it covered and it looked set to go dead before suddenly bouncing back into the gleefully grateful hands of Earls, who dotted down and allowed Carbery to convert for 13-7.
Munster needed Daniel Okeke to be very alert back in their own left corner shortly after as the number eight reacted well to Wolstenholme’s grubber kick to ensure Kibirige’s couldn’t regather and score.
And the visitors nearly had a second try just before the break as lock O’Connor blocked down a Wolstenholme box kick, stooped to grab the ball and offloaded to Beirne, who was stopped a metre short.
Wasps hooker Dan Frost deliberately killed the ball on the ground to earn himself a yellow card but Munster opted for a tap penalty against the 13-man Wasps and knocked-on as they pressure their tryline.
Munster had a brilliant start to the second half as Beirne broke down the right-hand shortside and into the Wasps half before offloading to Andrew Conway. They spun the ball wide to the left through de Allende and Chris Farrell, allowing fullback Campbell to show his pace by confidently finishing a 3-on-2 on the edge.
Carbery couldn’t convert but the visitors smelled blood against 13 men. Okeke broke out brilliantly from the restart before de Allende continued the momentum and Munster surged into the Wasps 22 again, only for O’Connor’s offload attempt to fly forward.
They had their third try soon after, though, as Wasps looked to counter-attack but spilled the ball for Conway to race onto, scoop up and canter home for a converted try that left Munster 25-7 up as Frost returned from the sin bin.
His opposite number Buckley was next to get in on the breakdown act for Munster with a steal in their half, while Okeke continued to rampage through Wasps defenders as he thrilled the travelling supporters.
It was Buckley who notched the bonus-point try from a clever back peel play by Munster, Beirne flicking a pass back inside for the hooker to storm over and round underneath the post, with Carbery adding the extras.
Michael Le Bourgeois responded for Wasps with just over 15 minutes left, picking a lovely line in between O’Connor and Hodnett to finish off Wolstenholme’s short pass, with Gopperth converting for 32-14.
Carbery tacked on another three points for Munster soon after, while O’Mahony delivered his second lineout steal of the evening as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
The bench was emptied to send all seven uncapped players there into action and it all ended as it started – with the Munster fans roaring out The Fields.
Wasps scorers:
Tries: Alfie Barbeary, Michael Le Bourgeois
Conversions: Jimmy Gopperth [2 from 2]
Penalties: Jimmy Gopperth [0 from 1]
Munster scorers:
Tries: Keith Earls, Patrick Campbell, Andrew Conway, Scott Buckley
Conversions: Joey Carbery [3 from 4]
Penalties: Joey Carbery [3 from 4]
WASPS: Marcus Watson (Cameron Anderson ’70); Zach Kibirige, Josh Bassett (Tommy Mathews ’73) , Michael Le Bourgeois, Luke Mehson; Jimmy Gopperth, Sam Wolstenholme; Tom West (Robin Hislop ’51), Dan Frost (yellow card ’40), Biyi Alo (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen ‘HT); Brad Shields (captain) (red card ’26), Tim Cardall; Nizaam Carr (Kieran Curran ’58), Thomas Young, Alfie Barbeary (Gabriel Oghre ‘HT) (Michael van Vuuren ‘ 67).
Replacement not used: Will Porter.
MUNSTER: Patrick Campbell (Jonathan Wren ’73); Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery (Tony Butler ’73), Conor Murray (Ethan Coughlan ’77); Dave Kilcoyne (Mark Donnelly ’65), Scott Buckley (Declan Moore ’71), James French (Roman Salanoa ’57); Eoin O’Connor (John Forde ’71), Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (captain), John Hodnett (Conor Moloney ’71), Daniel Okeke.
Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].
You can see why Munster attract supporters from all over the world, you don’t need to be born here to admire what this club has. The desire today was simply immense. Every single one of those lads stood up to be counted and to come away with a bonus point win is just simply exceptional. I said beforehand that the success today was in fielding but jeekers was I wrong. The success was in absolutely shellacking wasps. Nearly unfair to single anyone out but Tadhg Beirne is a magician. Plays like 3 guys always and showed he’s the best lock in the country again. Absolutely unreal stuff.
@Jim Demps: Agree but without taking away from munster ..wasps were shocking.
@Jim Demps: cant question that Jim. A great weekend for irish rugby. Some seriously talented young players in that bunch.
@Jim Demps: Absolutely fantastic result Jim although we’d have to admit that the sending off had a definite bearing on the result.
Thought Buckley, Okeke & Campbell were excellent.
SUAF
@k mcnamara: wasps being shocking is nothing to do with Munster you play what’s in front of you. Red card was harsh but that’s the way it goes.
@Jim Demps: overreaction beating a brutal English team with 14 men for 60 min and 20 absentees themselves isn’t exactly a colossal feat. This is the prob with Munster these so called ‘miracle wins’ against group games against poor sides. We haven’t seen it in the quarter final or semi final stages in 15 years!
@Darren Mullins: they fairly put it up to Toulouse last year in fairness
@Mark Sheehan: no argument about playing whats in front of you, but its fair to say wasps were very poor. Look, a BP away win under the circumstances is great going and the emrgnece of players like campbell okeke and buckley is all very positive, i just think wasps played some crazy rugby at times and as you say, it was a harsh red.
@Ciaran Kennedy: did they win ?? NO
@Jim Demps: “from all over the world”… Ah that had me in stitches!
@Darren Mullins: good man Darren
@Henry O’Sullivan: It’s unbelievable how some people are just completely unable to praise a performance by certain teams without adding a ‘but’ clause at the end in order to lessen or somehow demean the praise.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: but (shock horror) not everyone in Ireland Supports Munster
@Alan ODoherty: Why not though? This isn’t soccer or Gaelic Games parochial rivalries. These teams are all Union owned and feed directly into our one priority team, the national side. Sure, the important thing is to support your team over local opposition, but then to support Irish teams over all others. As a true Munster fan, I’m a huge supporter of Leinster and the success they’ve brought to Irish rugby and the player contribution of late to Munster. Similarly, I was thrilled when Connacht won the league and am always rooting for Ulster against teams from off the island. I understand that approach might be extreme but surely we should all support our own? Pettiness and tribalism belong in English, Italian, and Turkish soccer.
@Alan ODoherty: And not everybody supports Leinster. And not everyone supports Ulster. And not everyone supports Connacht. And (shock horror) I’m don’t understand the point you are making.
@Jim Demps: The bookies don’t get it wrong.
@Jim Demps: you beat a depleted Wasps team and with only 14 men for 55 minutes. Well done hahaha
@SomeGuy: couldn’t agree with you more. Well said!
@Darren Mullins: Another Irish province beat the worst team in the English Premiership while missing three/four starters; how do the two scenarios compare?
@Darren Mullins: is begrudgery your best asset?
Hopefully this is a wake up call for the club. Invest in local talent and stop throwing money away on South African players. The young guns have shown a lot of heart and promise. Give them a chance.
@Mark Hearne: 100%.
@Mark Hearne: if I could give a second thumb I would. All the young players stood up, with Buckley, Okeke, Hodnett and Campbell the pick of them. Remember these lads are late teens/early 20s.
@Mark Hearne: that there is rugby comment of the year
Hope carberry is ok
@Terry O Sullivan: didn’t look great sadly. You’d really feel for the guy
@Terry O Sullivan: I don’t he was shocking again, people need to stop making excuses for him.
@paul collins: sad statement. Your happy that carbery just shows what a human
t 1
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You are.
You are not a rugby fan, never have been or ever will be with a comment like that.
@whoowhat?: agree, what a sad comment. Obviously a total d-i-c-k
To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible. What a team.
Congratulations to all the Irish provinces who won there opening games
Well done Munster, great win. Great start to the Championship across Ireland. Onwards and upwards folks
what a game, don’t think I’ll sleep for a week after the high of this
Happily eating humble pie watching a brilliant, brilliant performance. Well done Munster.
Great win!
That’s a brilliant result. Worth pointing out that Wasps weren’t exactly playing from a full deck to put it mildly. Great result though.
@Cian Nolan: Wasps were missing 6 senior players, Munster were missing 34, AND their entire senior coaching staff! #SUAFF, and the extra F is intentional!
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Wasps forced into changes against Munster after positive Covid-19 tests https://the42.ie/5627762
Have a look at the article from a few hours ago. Wasps were missing 18 players themselves, before the COVID disruption. It’s a great result for Munster but my point still stands.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: a great win but dont post blatant BS. Wasps were missing a hell of a lot more than 6 senior players.
@Chris Mc: @Cian nolan:
Sorry but the report I read this morning, presumably written yesterday, mentioned 6 V. 34 players out. Obviously the situation changed since then. I apologise!
@Chris Mc: and Munster hadn’t played a game in what, 7 weeks? Which has a huge bearing as well tbf.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: No worries.
@Cian Nolan: they were also playing with 14 & 13 men for 55 minutes of the game.
Incredible result and shows these young lads should be backed but in a totally unprecedented circumstance where all were called upon they stepped up. On another note totally gutted for Joey again
So many of today’s squad started playing rugby in Junior clubs in Munster. Great credit due to their coaches.
@Jim Downey: You have to wonder though, Munster as an organisation appear to have spent the last decade investing in non-rugby areas to the detriment of established rugby regions. When West Cork, Clare, Tipp, Waterford, and Kerry are producing more pro players than the likes of Limerick, and urban Cork’s share of players dropping off, the conveyor belt is focussing on lower population areas. This has inevitably produced more players from these areas but fewer than could be produced from Cork City or Limerick City. It is a super important pursuit but should be done on balance with maintaining the development in the traditional places. Limerick rugby has fallen away altogether and major Cork City nurseries are being drawn more and more towards Gaelic Games.
@SomeGuy: I don’t believe that’s true as those traditional breading ground were mostly private schools and aren as such effected my munster funding, surly the non traditional areas producing quality young players is all a positive
@whoowhat?: Not quite. The only private school in Limerick is Glenstal Abbey, who wouldn’t traditionally produce many pros (although have a few of late). Limerick is almost entirely non-fee paying schools and club-based development. The West Cork growth however has been strong in the few paying private school world, so the point is still where the attention and effort is put on coaching development. More regional areas producing top players is 100% a massive positive but compromising the traditional strongholds of Limerick City and Cork City is a slippery slope to Rugby losing its place in Munster. CBC, Munchins, Ardscoil Rís are all rugby ‘A’ schools with a major focus recently on other sports without a change in student numbers. Also, Limerick club rugby is a shadow of its former self.
@SomeGuy: what a load of tripe
@SomeGuy: CBC’s primary sporting focus is still very much Rugby. There’s just not been a cup game for over a year
Any news on Carbery’s injury? It looked like he fell on his elbow. Let’s hope it’s “only” a dislocation
@Lesidees: Have u ever had the experience of having an elbow dislocated?
Not for the faint hearted my friend.
Don’t post silly comments
@Lesidees: an elbow dislocation has ended a couple of rugby careers in the past, it’s more likely the AC he’s done rather than the elbow which would be less complicated in rehab.
@Nick Condon Sen: no, but I have broken my elbow twice, so I reckon a dislocation is less serious
@Lesidees: no a break is a lot more easy to heal and rehab rather than a dislocation. Break tends to just be a bone that broken. Dislocation inovles all the soft tissue like tendons, ligaments, muscles and cartilage. Can affect the bone aswell. Surgery is also a lot easier for broken bones than soft tissue
@john joe brady: depends on the break (and like I already wrote, I know what it’s like)
Hodnett had a blinder. Delighted for him after navigating those injuries. Masterclass from the Kildare man tho, some player. Captain material. Feel for Joey and the gifts we gave them in the first half, but players like Okeke came to life once settled, unlucky with that out the back pass (19yr ffs). Great game back from a barren month. TP will be hopping mad next week!
Today showed why we love being Red.
Awesome just awesome performance
Hats off and all credit to them
Wasps may have been missing a lot of players but Munster were missing the bulk of their coaching staff and hadn’t played a competitive match in over a month.
Wasps may have been missing a lot of players but Munster were without the bulk of their coaching staff and hadn’t played a competitive match in over a month.
Wasps may have been missing a lot of players,but let’s not forget Munster were without the bulk of their coaching staff and hadn’t played a competitive match in over a month.
@Mark Monnelly: Sorry Mark. I didn’t catch that
Wasps may have been missing a lot of players, but Munster were missing the bulk of their coaching staff and hadn’t played a competitive match in over a month.
Good win Munster but you beat a depleted Wasps team with only 14 men for 55 minutes. Not a real contest.