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Four-try Leinster outfire Munster in lively derby

Updated / Saturday, 2 Apr 2022 21:18
Leinster proved too strong for Munster
Leinster proved too strong for Munster

Leinster inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Munster with a bonus-point victory at Thomond Park.

It was the sides' first meeting in almost a year and despite an encouraging performance from the hosts, it was Leo Cullen’s men who came away with a deserved win.

Garry Ringrose, James Lowe (2) and Jimmy O’Brien scored the tries as Leinster extended their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship.

Munster, meanwhile, remain in fourth place.

Both teams recalled many of Ireland’s Triple Crown winners ahead of the upcoming Champions Cup double-headers over the next two weekends.

While there was only a point between the rivals at the break, the champions always looked like they had an extra gear and when the game was in the mix it was they who pressed their foot on the gas to surge clear.

"To come here and win, it's a brilliant result for us against such a tough Munster side so we're delighted with that," captain Ringrose told RTÉ Sport.

"We've one or two fix-ups, work-ons where we got exposed. To concede nearly 20 points in any game, there will be places for us to improve."

Although Munster had won the last meeting of the teams, the Rainbow Cup clash last April, Leinster had beaten their neighbours in nine of the last 11 encounters.

Eager to restore what they believe is the natural order of things, Leinster loaded up and recalled eight of the Ireland side to their ranks, while Munster had three of the Six Nations match-day squad members in their line-up.

However, Tadhg Beirne, Dave Kilcoyne and Andrew Conway were all missing and the loss of Gavin Coombes to injury in the first half of this game will give head coach Johann van Graan cause for concern ahead of their meeting with Exeter next weekend.

It was tit for tat in the opening half with the out-halves Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne trading seven penalties over the 40 minutes.

Leinster grabbed the only try of the half with 16 minutes gone when Ringrose crept over in the corner after a number of phases close to the Munster line.

But Carbery was keeping the hosts in touch and his fourth kick in the 37th minute seemed set to give Munster the half-time advantage.

However, after winning a turnover in their own 22, the Munster pack couldn't secure the ball at a ruck and Byrne was able to kick his third penalty.

Leinster started the second half the stronger and Caelan Doris was prominent as the Dublin-based side worked their way into the Munster 22 before sucking in the defence and getting the ball wide for Lowe to dive over in the 48th minute.

Byrne added a penalty when Fineen Wycherley went high on Josh van der Flier and there was suddenly 10 points between the sides.

The hosts desperately needed the next score but Lowe and Henshaw combined to send O'Brien over for a converted try.

That spurred Munster on and Damian de Allende, who will leave the province at the end of season, was on Ben Healy’s shoulder to finish off a move under the posts.

They managed to work an attacking position before a crooked lineout throw handed the momentum back to Leinster, who ran in the bonus point score with six minutes to play, Lowe again finding space out wide.

"Discipline, you can't give a side like them access," replied Van Graan when asked where the game was lost.

"I think we gave away six breakdown penalties. Felt we got back into the game, 12-11 ahead, to concede the penalty just before half-time swung the momentum back to them.

"Leinster are a championship team and you've got to be on top of your game, we make one or two errors and we come up 15 points short."

Munster: Matt Gallagher; Calvin Nash, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jason Jenkins, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O'Mahony (capt), Chris Cloete, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Thomas Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Keith Earls.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose (capt), Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ed Byrne, James Tracy, Michael Ala'alatoa; Devin Toner, Jack Dunne; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Josh Murphy, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley, Max Deegan.

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