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Munster lock in top seed after comeback win v Ulster

Updated / Monday, 3 Jun 2024 12:47
Munster came from ten points down to win
Munster came from ten points down to win

Munster will carry the top seed into the BKT United rugby Championship play-offs after a 29-24 win against Ulster, coming from behind to win an epic end of season Interpro at Thomond Park.

Ulster led 17-7 at half time and 24-14 early in the second half, and were good value for that scoreline, with Richie Murphy's side threatening to throw a major curveball on the play-off picture.

Ultimately, the losing bonus-point is enough for the northern province to secure Champions Cup rugby next season, with their sixth-place finish setting up a quarter-final away to Leinster on Saturday next. The game at the Aviva Stadium will have a 5pm kick-off.

Munster, meanwhile, will have home advantage for as long as they remain in the competition, starting with the Ospreys on Friday next; the Thomond Park clash will have a 7.35pm start.

As it so often has done in recent weeks, Munster’s bench proved the difference. Joey Carbery was outstanding after his introduction for an injured Rory Scannell in the opening half, while Gavin Coombes, Tom Ahern and Oli Jager contributed to the province’s come from behind win, their ninth in a row in the URC.

Munster got off to the perfect start when RG Snyman’s early try nudged them into a 7-0 lead, but Ulster controlled the first half, with tries for Rob Herring and the excellent David McCann, as well as a John Cooney penalty, giving them a 17-7 half time buffer.

The sides traded tries early in the second half, with Calvin Nash’s effort cancelled out by Matty Rea, but Munster’s greater power saw them dominate Ulster physically as the second half wore on.

Shane Daly’s try on 58 minutes got Munster back within reach, before they nudged ahead with a bonus-point score for hooker Eoghan Clarke.

And with the game hanging in the balance, a late penalty from Jack Crowley, who had endured a frustrating time in open play, sealed the deal, ensuring Munster bring their winning run into the knockouts.

Having lost both Stuart McCloskey and Ethan McIlroy before kick-off, the game was just four minutes old when Ulster saw Kieran Treadwell depart with an injury, while Munster were potentially lucky not to lose Snyman to a card when he made head contact with Will Addison in the Ulster 22.

A penalty was deemed sufficient punishment, and it would prove to be a significant call as the South African crossed for a try after eight minutes, reaching out to just about ground the ball after a strong Munster maul had brought them within striking range.

It was 7-0 when Crowley knocked over the conversion, and while Ulster won back the restart, their first real possession ended within one phase as a loose pass drifted harmlessly into touch.

The visitors settled though, and enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession in the Munster half, which was finally rewarded with a penalty on 15 minutes, after Crowley was pinged for playing the scrum-half.

Cooney turned down a shot at the posts in favour of the corner, and it proved to be the right decision as they mauled their way over, Herring putting the finishing touches on the try, as Cooney's conversion levelled the game at 7-7.

Ulster’s injury problems continued as they lost their second starting lock on the quarter-hour mark, captain Alan O’Connor following Treadwell to the dressing room with a knock, but they looked the more comfortable side, and Cooney kicked them into a 10-7 lead after 22 minutes, when Munster were penalised for offside.

Rob Herring reaches over for Ulster's opening try

Munster had been struggling to get their much-lauded attack into the game, but on 25 minutes they showed what it’s capable of, as a wonderful lineout strike play saw Crowley, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Simon Zebo and Calvin Nash combine to send the latter clear down the right wing, but a brilliant covering tackle from Nick Timoney saved the day for Ulster.

That little spark wasn’t enough to ignite Munster, and in particular Crowley, who saw a penalty kick miss touch, following it up with an open-play kick going out on the full.

They were forced into a backline rejig five minutes before the break when Rory Scannell suffered a nasty looking ankle injury. Joey Carbery came into the side and moved to out-half, while Crowley shifted across to the centre.

A gorgeous offload in midfield gave a hint that Crowley was back in the groove, but worse was to come for the Munster out-half. With the clock just crossing the 40-minute mark, Crowley kicked a goalline drop-out straight into touch without bouncing, and it handed Ulster a five-metre scrum with the final play of the half.

The visitors earned a penalty off that set-piece, before turning to their pick-and-go game, which saw McCann force his way over for their second try, which Cooney again converted to make it a deserved 17-7 Ulster lead.

Munster began the second half in determined fashion, and Carbery started to ask more questions of the Ulster defence, but a crooked lineout in the Ulster 22 ended a promising attack on 44 minutes.

It almost got worse moments later, as McCann intercepted a pass from Snyman to break into the Munster half, before Crowley gave away a penalty for not rolling. Ulster, however, couldn't make the most of it after Cooney’s shot came back off the posts.

Right on 50 minutes, Graham Rowntree brought in the heavy artillery; Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett came in, while Archer, Snyman, Peter O’Mahony and Alex Kendellen all departed.

Their impact was instant, working a penalty advantage at the scrum, before Ahern broke down the left wing. O’Brien, Crowley and Coombes followed up with strong carries to break deep into the 22, before Casey swept a looping pass to the touchline, as Nash touched down for a brilliant try.

Crowley put his previous errors behind him to nail the touchline conversion.

That brought the score back to 17-14 on 54 minutes, but within 60 seconds Ulster had restored their 10-point buffer as Matty Rea crossed for their third try, the flanker driving over from close range after Cormac Izuchukwu danced through a Hodnett tackle to bring the province down into the 22.

A good game of rugby was threatening to become a great one, as both sides started swinging for the fences, desperate to earn as high a seed as possible.

Munster won possession back after the restart, and after working their way down towards the Ulster 22, the quick ball they were generating at the breakdown allowed Casey zip a pass over to the unmarked Daly on the left wing, who dived in for another try, which Crowley again converted to make it a three-point game at 24-21, with 20 minutes to play.

Having wasted a golden opportunity in the Ulster 22 on 63 minutes, following a crooked throw, Munster turned down a chance to level the game five minutes later, kicking to the corner after Ulster were penalised for offside.

This time, they made it stick, as Clarke found Beirne in the lineout the hooker grounded the ball after Munster mauled their way over the line to put his side into a 26-24 lead, Crowley’s conversion coming back off the left post to leave just two points between the sides.

A penalty for Crowley with three minutes to play left Ulster chasing a try top either draw or win it, and they were given one last chance to do so when Nash was penalised for a deliberate knock-on. But as he so often does, Beirne came up with a decisive turnover to draw the full-time whistle, and leave Munster on home soil for the play-offs.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, John Hodnett.

Ulster: Stewart Moore; Mike Lowry, Will Addison, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O'Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (capt); Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Aaron Sexton, Dave Ewers.

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

BKT URC quarter-finals

Friday 7 June
Munster v Ospreys, Thomond Park, 7.35pm

Saturday 8 June
Vodacom Bulls v Benetton, 2.30pm
Leinster v Ulster, Aviva Stadium, 5pm
Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers, 7.35pm

Semi-finals
Munster/Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors/DHL Stormers
Vodacom Bulls/Benetton v Leinster/Ulster

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