With the match in the balance, the All Blacks took control in front of a packed-out Thomond Park
Munster 24 – 38 All Blacks XV
Munster’s losing run continued despite a spirited showing in Thomond on Saturday. Kiwi out-half Harry Plummer scored thirteen points, including a match sealing try, as the visitors ran out 38-24 winners.
A full house of 26,267 packed into Thomond Park on a balmy November night to witness another hard-fought duel between these two rivals with decades of history. The opening theatrics were nothing short of jaw dropping. From light shows to Zombie and the traditional New Zealand haka, it was a memorable few minutes. The action quickly reached the same pace as Diarmuid Kilgallen’s first touch as a red saw him sit down out-half Harry Plummer. It was never going to be a friendly affair.
The intensity stayed high but the scoreline remained low. It was the All Blacks who were first off the mark, after the 23rd minute. Centre AJ Lam, nephew of Pat Lam, dotted down after some pressure in the Munster 22. Harry Plummer converted and the hosts moved seven in front.
Munster had the lion’s share of possession in the opening half hour, but New Zealand’s ability to strike from anywhere is always present. Chay Fihaki dotted down in the corner after a stunning counter attacking try, and with the extras from Plummer again; Munster were fourteen points behind.
Munster refused to lay down, and got their own opening try of proceedings some moments later. Full-back Mike Haley dotted down for the fifth time this season, thus garnering a seismic roar from the Thomond faithful.
The home side had one last chance to narrow the deficit before half time, and they duly obliged. Referee Takehito Namekawa awarded a dominant Munster maul a penalty try, and the gap was just two. It was a half that wavered in momentum, but Ian Costello was sure to be thrilled with how the response from his men.
The visitors thought they got off to a flying start to the second half, but captain Du-Plessis Kirifi’s try was chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up, and Thomond breathed a collective sigh of relief. They did, however, find that third try minutes later. Brodie McAlister pounced from the back of a dangerous maul, and the lead was 21-12.
Like everything – bar the atmosphere – this lead was also short-lived. Cork flanker John Hodnett was the beneficiary from another superb Munster maul, and the crowd got back on their feet. Rory Scannell’s conversion again drifted wide, but this exhibition was living up to its tight fought history.
The next big moment was yet another All Blacks try. Waikato Chief centre Quinn Tupaea had acres of room to score from a delicate cross kick, and the visitors reinstated their lead. And even that didn’t last long as Munster clawed it back once more. This time it was Rory Scannell as provider and Tom Farrell as scorer. An epic clash by every metric.
When the winning score was needed, it was the All Blacks who got it. Kini Naholo pushed the game beyond reach, akin to Joe Rokocoko in 2008. With it, Thomond fell into a deadly silence. They added a final blow through Plummer before the death, in a second cruel twist of fate. It finished 38-24 to the Kiwis, and they get to write this chapter in a fabled history book.
Munster’s interim head coach Ian Costello will take pride from the performance and the spectacle, saying the team are gutted, but proud. He also highlighted the performances of the six academy players who shone brightly. Diarmuid Barron labelled it as bittersweet, describing the crowd as “incredible”.
MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy (Ben O’Connor, 70’), Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns (Tony Butler, 51’), Ethan Coughlan (Paddy Patterson, 55’); John Ryan (Kieran Ryan, 51’), Diarmuid Barron (Niall Scannell, 55’) (C), Stephen Archer (Ronan Foxe, 70’); Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern (Evan O’Connell, 61’); Peter O’Mahony (Ruadhán Quinn, 40’), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Tries: Mike Haley, Penalty Try, John Hodnett, Tom Farrell
Cons: Rory Scannell 0/2, Tony Butler 1/1
ALL BLACKS XV: Shaun Stevenson; Chay Fihaki, AJ Lam, Quinn Tupaea, Kini Naholo; Harry Plummer, Finlay Christie; George Bower, Brodie McAlister, George Dyer; Isaia Walker-Leawere, Fabian Holland; Oliver Haig, Du-Plessis Kirifi (C), Devan Flanders.
Replacements used: Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia, Marcel Renata, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Corey Kellow, Josh Jacomb, Ruben Love.
Tries: AJ Lam, Chay Fihaki, Brodie McAlister, Quinn Tupaea, Kini Naholo, Harry Plummer
Cons: Harry Plummer 4/6
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)