URC: Munster 20 Edinburgh 19
Munster retained their perfect start to the season with an extremely hard-fought win against Edinburgh. In a physical battle between the two sides, the hosts left it to the dying minutes to seal victory in a sold-out Virgin Media Park.
Munster capitalised on the ill-discipline of Edinburgh, who were handed four yellow cards throughout the game. It was a gritty and messy performance at times, but Munster secured the maximum five points to keep their perfect record in the URC.
It was a Munster side that had ten changes to the team who beat Cardiff last week, playing against an Edinburgh team that featured three British and Irish Lions.
Edinburgh’s round two game against Ulster was postponed due to Storm Amy, and in a pre-match press conference, Munster senior coach Mike Prendergast noted, “They are going to be greener in that sense, but it will come down to those contact moments and the set piece battle.”
Munster came out of the blocks firing, and Andrew Smith scored the first try for the home side after a clever grubber kick from Calvin Nash. JJ Hanrahan missed the conversion, but Munster took an early 5-0 lead.
However, Edinburgh were quick to fight back with two unanswered tries from Ashman and Vellacott shortly after. Healy converted the latter conversion to give the visiting side a 5-12 lead.
Referee Ben Whitehouse had a very busy evening and had issued Edinburgh with two yellow cards, one for an off field review, before 30 minutes had gone in the game. Munster had to try and take advantage of Edinburgh being two men down and did so with prop Michael Milne scoring a try just before half time.
Munster looked sure to score again before the half time whistle, but the ball was lost in a crucial moment, and the home side went in at half time 10-12 down.
It was Edinburgh who were first to score in the second half from a brilliant cross field kick collected by Darcy Graham, with Ben Healy adding the extra two points to bring the score to 10-19.
There was another yellow card for Edinburgh as Freddy Douglas competed illegally at a ruck. Munster started to get back into the game as Milne went over for his second try of the match to bring the score to 15-19, as Hanrahan’s conversion attempt went wide once again.
With about ten minutes left to play, and more ill-discipline from Edinburgh and their captain this time, Munster looked to capitalise.
A disallowed try from Gavin Coombes came close to giving them the lead, but it was Fineen Wycherley who ultimately scored the all-important fourth and bonus point try for Munster to give them a narrow one-point lead.
Video: TG4
Tony Butler’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and it was a nervous final few minutes for the home side to hold on to victory and their perfect start to the season.
It was a nail biting last few moments as Edinburgh made their way up the field to try steal victory for Munster’s grasp, but a penalty went the home side’s way and Munster held on to their one-point lead.
Throughout the entire game, there were no successful conversions from either out-half for Munster. This luckily did not prove too costly for them. Munster’s set piece was also a recurrent issue throughout the game.
However, it was Munster’s Tom Farrell that was named BKT Player of the Match.