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Early blitz sees Leinster down Munster at Croke Park

Updated / Saturday, 12 Oct 2024 22:05
James Lowe celebrates Leinster's first try
James Lowe celebrates Leinster's first try

We were promised an occasion at Croke Park. For the fans in blue, at least, it delivered on that promise.

In front of 80,468 supporters at GAA HQ, Leinster continued their dominance over Munster with a 26-12 win, scoring three tries in a ferocious first 15 minutes, which ensured their victory was never really in doubt.

The previous four meetings of these sides had all been one-score games, but, within a quarter of an hour, it was apparent that a similar margin of victory wouldn't be on the cards.

RG Snyman had been the talk of Irish rugby after his move from Munster to Leinster this summer, and it was his try right on half-time that brought up the bonus-point.

By then, the game already felt over, with James Lowe, Caelan Doris and Hugo Keenan all crossing the line inside the opening quarter of an hour, as Leinster exploded into the game.

While they scored three early tries, defence was their greatest attacking weapon. Munster made enough line breaks and created enough chances to keep this game competitive, but whenever they got within striking range, Leinster’s ferocious rush defence met them behind the gainline, with Jamie Osborne in particular delivering a masterclass.

RG Snyman scored the fourth Leinster try

There were several standouts in blue. James Ryan stole two lineouts in the first half when the game was still in the balance, while Doris scored one and played a big role in two other tries.

Ciarán Frawley showed some nice touches in the build-up to the opening flurry of tries, while his opposite number for Munster, Jack Crowley, was one of the few Munster players who brought energy to the game.

Sean O’Brien got in for Munster’s first half try on 32 minutes, before Mike Haley crossed the line with 15 to play, but Graham Rowntree’s side never looked like getting back within bonus-point territory, as they fell to a second defeat of the season.

On a record-breaking evening at Croke Park, there was also a sobering reminder of the attrition rate of the modern game.

Over the 80 minutes, five players left the game for head-injury assessments: Niall Scannell, Diarmuid Barron, John Hodnett and John Ryan all needing treatment for Munster, while Ryan Baird was removed within two minutes of entering the pitch as a sub, following a collision with his teammate Lowe.

Hugo Keenan grabbed Leinster's third try

Right from the kick-off, Snyman found himself involved, as he tackled Mike Haley in the air to give Munster a penalty, and with their opening possessions the visitors looked to find the edge of the Leinster defence. Crowley went searching with a pass to Calvin Nash, before a cross-field kick failed to land nicely for Alex Nankivell.

Leinster’s aggressive blitz defence had been a real weapon in last week’s win away to Benetton, and it was on show early on at Croke Park, as a ferocious Doris tackle met Stephen Archer behind the gain line, resulting in a Leinster penalty and a kick to the corner.

From that attack, a lovely offload in contact from Jamie Osborne found Frawley who was stopped just short of the line, but with a huge overlap to work with, Jamison Gibson-Park flung a wide pass to Lowe who had an easy finish in the corner.

From just off the left touchline, Frawley was pinpoint with the conversion, for a 7-0 lead after six minutes.

It would get even better for the hosts five minutes later, when a stolen lineout from Ryan put them back on the attack and, after winning a penalty in the corner, Lowe took a quick tap to suck in the Munster defence, before they moved infield, and Doris picked and drove over from close range for his side’s second try, which Frawley again converted to make it 14-0.

Munster looked shell-shocked, not helped by losing Niall Scannell and Jeremy Loughman temporarily for a HIA and blood injury respectively early on, and in the 14th minute they were back under their own posts again.

After Leinster got the ball wide, Lowe’s kick down the wing was chased brilliantly by Doris, who forced a penalty close to the Munster line.

Leinster’s attempts to maul were dealt with by the visitors, but they couldn't deal with the quick handling of the backs, as Osborne and Frawley’s passes caught out Sean O’Brien, allowing Keenan run in under the posts to score.

Trailing 21-0 with a quarter of an hour played, Munster needed something quickly, but nothing was going right.

Crowley saw a long-range penalty bounce back off the crossbar, and although two more quick penalties gave them a lineout just short of the Leinster line, Ryan came up with his second steal of the day to quell the attack.

Munster were getting chances, but couldn't convert. Tom Farrell, Craig Casey and Calvin Nash combined for a promising break before Leinster’s scramble defence covered the danger, and on 24 minutes it looked like Nash was in for a try in the corner, only for it to be called back for a forward pass by Nankivell.

Six minutes before half time Munster finally got their lifeline.

After winning a scrum penalty close to the Leinster line they went back to the corner, and a perfect throw from Barron found Jean Kleyn at the tail. The second row popped down to Gavin Coombes, and the number 8’s deft pass back inside opened a gap for O’Brien to run in and score, although Crowley’s missed conversion still left the scores at 21-5.

For a moment it felt like they were back in the game, but right-on half-time Leinster landed the killer blow, when a succession of penalties against the visitors allowed them set up camp in the Munster 22, and Snyman powered past two tackles to touch down the bonus-point score.

Even with Frawley missing the conversion, it gave them a hearty 26-5 advantage at the break.


Munster had the bulk of the possession early in the second half, although it was largely contained to the middle third of the pitch.

With a 21-point deficit to make up, Crowley tested out the Leinster defensive line with a couple of chips into the vacant kick-space. Neither led to anything significant, but at the very least the Munster out-half was trying to make something happen.

SCORERS AND TIMELINE

They were making plenty happen, but Leinster’s relentless work rate was proving too hard to break down. When Nash and Hodnett connected to send the latter breaking down the right flank, he made it to the edge of the 22 before recycling, only for Loughman to be met behind the gainline and spill forward.

On 50 minutes it was a similar story as O’Brien broke two tackles down the left touchline, but his pass back inside was intercepted by Osborne.

With 15 minutes to play of a scoreless second half, Conor Murray’s introduction provided a spark, and when he sniped cleverly off a midfield lineout it finally put his side on the front foot.

Coombes followed up with a grubber to space, which Haley raced onto to score, Crowley’s conversion making it a 14-point game at 26-12.

There was never any danger of a late comeback though, with the remainder of the game being played largely in Munster’s half, while Ross Byrne and Frawley both saw kicks at goal miss the target, which would have extended the lead further.

Leinster scorers: Tries: James Lowe, Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan, RG Snyman

Cons: Ciarán Frawley (3)

Munster scorers: Tries: Sean O’Brien, Mike Haley

Cons: Jack Crowley (1)

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Lee Barron, Tadhg Furlong; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)

Replacements: Gus McCarthy (for Barron, 40), Cian Healy (for Furlong, 64), Thomas Clarkson (for Baird, 52), Ryan Baird (for RG Snyman, 50), Max Deegan (for Conan, 19), Luke McGrath (for Gibson-Park, 69), Ross Byrne (for Turner, 69), Harry Byrne (for Lowe, 76’)

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O'Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Jack O'Donoghue, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (for Scannell, 8-18 [HIA]), Kieran Ryan (for John Ryan, 74), John Ryan (for Loughman, 12-23 [blood], and 50’), Tom Ahern (for Kleyn, 50), Ruadhán Quinn (for Coombes, 54, Coombes for Hodnett [HIA], 58-69), Conor Murray (for Casey, 59), Tony Butler (for Farrell, 74), Shay McCarthy (for O’Brien, 61).

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

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