Munster 31 - 28 Argentina XV
Munster became the first club side to defeat all four major southern hemisphere nations following a 31-28 win over Argentina XV in Thomond Park on Saturday.
In front of a crowd of 15,054 under the lights in the Treaty City, it was out-half Tony Butler who ran the show, scoring two tries, as Evan O'Connell, Gavin Coombes and Seán O’Brien also dotted down.
Argentina dominated the early exchanges, with flashes of flair from both sides enlightening the supporters early on.
However, the game was 18 minutes old before we saw the opening score, courtesy of the visitors.
Sevens star Tobias Wade, playing full-back tonight, recovered his own kick over the top before sending Faustino Sanchez Valarolo over for the five pointer. Out-half Julian Hernandez sliced the uprights with the conversion attempt.
In true Munster fashion, they would hit right back as lock Evan O'Connell powered over for his fist try in the red of his native province.
Mike Haley and Gavin Coombes broke the Argentinian defensive line before young speedster Shay McCarthy went close. Fellow Limerick man O’Connell was on hand from two metres out to cross the whitewash.
Those consecutive scores would breathe a lease of life to proceedings, as the temperature on field soared, even if in weather terms, it was dropping.
Kicking into gear, Munster took the lead shortly after the half hour mark.
An overthrown lineout looked to be costly, but Clare man Tony Butler reacted fastest. Still with a defender to beat, he raced home for his first try for the club.
That was all a frantic first half would serve up, giving Munster a 10-7 lead at the break.
The youthful exuberance came to the fore as confidence grew. Butler, Ruadhán Quinn, Fionn Gibbons and replacement Ben O’Connor all popping up with smart touches in possession.
Yet, it was one of the veteran heads who got try number three. Gavin Coombes once again refused to be stopped from close range, and the home side made the perfect start to the second half, extending their lead to double digits.
That margin would be short lived as the Argentina XV got their second score through Leonel Oviedo not long after.
The hooker emerged from the bottom of an impressive rolling maul to get the visitors back in the contest. Paddy Patterson was sinbinned in the preceding phases for a cynical infringement.
Then came the hammer blow, as Tony Butler ran in his second try of the night.
Ben O’Connor’s sublime offload to Jack O’Donoghue sent the flanker into space, and, with only one man to beat, he selflessly gave the pass inside to Butler who had the legs from 40 metres out.
The sideline conversion was successful, and the ten-point lead was reinstated.
Fionn Gibbons’ last-gasp intervention on Tobias Wade stopped the Pumas from hitting right back right after, while debutant Max Clein’s first major involvement in red was denying the visitors a coast-to-coast score following a mix up at the back.
However, the typical Argentinian breaking ability would eventually be converted. Leonardo Gea Salim and try scorer Santiago Pernas linked up down the vacant right wing, despite a hint of a forward pass.
With the clocking ticking towards the final ten, it was another one of Munster's wise heads who put the game beyond doubt.
Centre Seán O’Brien powered past a fatiguing Argentina first phase defence to score, with Butler again successful with the extras.
The game fizzled out as supporters turned attention to the blockbuster in Chicago, and Clayton McMillan’s unbeaten start as Munster head coach continued.
Tobias Wade would narrow the gap with the last play, but Munster took the spoils in the end, leaving them with six wins from six to start the 2025/26 season.
Munster: Tries – Evan O’Connell, Tony Butler (2), Gavin Coombes, Seán O’Brien
Conversions: Tony Butler (3)
Yellow Card: Paddy Patterson
Argentina XV: Tries – Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, Leonel Oviedo, Santiago Pernas, Tobias Wade
Conversions: Julian Hernandez (3), Bautista Farise
Munster: Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Fionn Gibbons, Seán O’Brien, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Lee Barron, Ronan Foxe; Conor Ryan, Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue (Capt), Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Max Clein (for Barron, 58), Mark Donnelly (for J Wycherley, 58), Kieran Ryan (for Foxe), Fineen Wycherley (for O’Connell, 69), Luke Murphy (for Quinn, 67), Jake O’Riordan (for Patterson, 58), JJ Hanrahan (for Kilgallen, 64), Ben O’Connor (for Haley, 25).
Argentina XV: Tobias Wade; Santiago Pernas, Leonardo Gea Salim, Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, Mateo Soler; Julian Hernandez, Alejo Sugasti; Matias Medrano, Leonel Oviedo, Francisco Moreno; Lautaro Simes, Federico Albrisi; Nicolas D’Amorim, Aitor Bildosola, Juan Cruz Perez Rachel (Capt).
Replacements (all used): Juan Manuel Vivas, Diego Correa, Octavio Filippa, Lorenzo Colidio, Juan Pedro Bernasconi, Estanislao Presto, Bautista Farise, Agustin Fraga.
Referee: Angus Gardner (ARU)
