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Munster book URC final date with famous win over Leinster

Updated / Monday, 15 May 2023 22:45

Leinster's double dreams are over. Munster's are only beginning.

Just a few months ago, many were predicting that Munster would miss out on Champions Cup rugby, but Graham Rowntree's side have defied the odds for the fourth week in a row, to book their place in the BKT United Rugby Championship final, one step away from a first trophy in 12 years.

The fact that they have to return to South Africa for a third time in two months for the Cape Town final against the Stormers won't bother them in the slightest.

For an added bonus, they've ended Leinster's hopes of a famous European and URC double.

Leo Cullen's side could still be celebrating on the Aviva Stadium pitch in seven days when they face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final, but they were second best this evening against a Munster side that refused to quit.

The visitors played all the rugby, but it took a Jack Crowley dropgoal in the final three minutes to get them over the line, and beat their rivals for the first time in two years.

Had they lost, Rowntree's side would have lived to regret a profligate attack that continued to turn down shots at goal in favour of going for tries.

Aside from Tadhg Beirne's try on 46 minutes, they were wasteful in the Leinster 22, while the hosts were the opposite; tries for Jason Jenkins and Joe McCarthy looked like seeing them fall over the winning line until Crowley's late intervention.

Today, intent got the better of execution. Munster came to Dublin without a win against Leinster in a knockout game since 2011, and physically depleted with injuries to Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, RG Snyman and Malakai Fekitoa.

They won the game at the breakdown, winning the penalty count 10-5 against an indisciplined Leinster, who struggled to gain any real momentum, having rested a number of key starters.

Harry Byrne gave Leinster a 3-0 lead inside two minutes with a penalty resulting from a serious Will Connors injury, while replacement Van der Flier made an instant impact off the restart in claiming a jackal turnover.

Munster responded well, and back to back penalties gave them the opportunity to go to the corner. Leinster held the maul still, and while a double tackle from Van der Flier and Michael Milne ended the siege, Conan was penalised at the breakdown.

This time, Healy called for the tee, and split the posts from distance to level the game at 3-3.

Both sides were playing quite conservatively early on, and the opening quarter was dominated by back and forth kicking, which almost led to the first try of the game.

On 19 minutes a Luke McGrath box-kick bounced kindly for Ryan Baird, and the athletic lock steamed onto the ball, shedding the tackle of Mike Haley to run in and score.

The ball had bounced kindly for him after it had been batted down by O'Mahony, but on second viewing the final touch came off the fingers of Tommy O’Brien, and after a check with the TMO the try was chalked off.

Four minutes later, Healy nudged Munster 6-3 in front with a penalty on the 22 after Kelleher was penalised for an early tackle on Loughman.

The health scare of Baird’s disallowed try kicked Munster into life, and they started to find pockets of space and get gainline success.

Twice Munster turned down shots at goal in favour of going for the corner, but twice they came away pointless.

Both penalties were conceded by Luke McGrath, first for a tackle while off his feet on 29 minutes, before a deliberate knock-on five minutes later.

A rolling maul appeared to be heading for the tryline before Max Deegan inserted himself to rip the ball free, while on their next foray towards the line, Kelleher came up with a decisive strip of Beirne, as Leinster’s defence produced two important stands.

To compound Munster’s regret, they found themselves behind on 38 minutes, and it was their former second row Jenkins who dived over to score.

A free-kick at the scrum gave Leinster the territory in attack, and it was a delicate inside offload from Henshaw which sent the South African into space, as he held off late tackles from Crowley and Casey to get the touchdown.

Byrne’s conversion sent Leinster 10-8 in front by the half time whistle, in a game they’d been largely second-best.

Munster's lack of composure in attack continued in the early stages of the second half; Peter O’Mahony’s opportunistic break into the 22 was ended with a wild Casey pass directly into touch, before another promising attack was ended by a Stephen Archer knock-on.

The visitors had been wasteful, but the hosts were lacking discipline, and when Ciarán Frawley was penalised for offside on 44 minutes it gave Munster yet another chance at points. They were bullish about their chances, turning down an easy shot at goal, and this time they finally made it count, Beirne forcing his way over the line to score their opening try.

With Healy having departed with a head injury, Crowley took over kicking duties, sending them back in front at 13-10.

Beirne was turning it into a one-man show. Shortly after his try, the Ireland international poached a crucial turnover just short of his own line, and barely 60 seconds later he batted a loose pass back down on his side, as Leinster came up empty-handed on their first real attack of the second half.

On 55 minutes Leinster reached double-digits on the penalty count, and while it was a straightforward shot at goal for Crowley to send his side six in front, they continued to go for the jugular and went into the corner.

Once more, Leinster held them out, and it was the moment the game swung back in Leinster’s favour.

Just after the hour mark, Joe McCarthy burrowed over to score and put his side ahead, and while Frawley’s conversion drifted wide, it sent Leo Cullen’s side into a 15-13 lead.

It looked like Leinster would kick on but Munster refused to buckle. After withstanding a length period inside their own half, they finally broke free in the final five minutes, and after getting into range, Crowley dropped back into the pocket on 77 minutes to strike the winning drop-goal, and deliver a famous win.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Michael Milne, Ronan Kelleher, Michael Ala'alatoa; Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins; Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan.

Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Ciaran Frawley, Liam Turner.

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O'Mahony (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)


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