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Munster fall to late Glasgow rally

Updated / Friday, 21 Mar 2025 23:27
Munster led by 11 points with 11 minutes left
Munster led by 11 points with 11 minutes left

Munster conceded two late tries as they fell to a 28-25 URC defeat to champions Glasgow in Scotstoun.

The hosts trailed for most of the night but staged a late rally to claim a bonus-point victory over Ian Costello's side to tighten their grip on second spot.

Although missing some key Scotland internationals like Huw Jones, Rory Darge and Zander Fagerson following their Six Nations exertions, Warriors welcomed back captain Kyle Steyn from injury for his first appearance in two months, while Tonga back-rower returned for his first outing in 15 months.

Glasgow were applauded on to the pitch by the Warriors' 2015 Pro12 title-winning squad, who were in attendance to mark 10 years since their triumph, but the hosts were on the back foot early on as Munster started strongly.

The visitors’ early momentum looked in danger of being disrupted when they had lock Fineen Wycherley yellow carded for a needless act of cynical play at the breakdown.

The second-rower’s indiscipline did not prove costly, however, as his team, missing their Ireland contingent, still managed to fashion a seven-point lead during his time in the bin, with flanker John Hodnett darting in from the left to score following a crossfield kick from Tony Butler.

Munster went further ahead in the 23rd minute when Sean O’Brien came in off his wing and reached over for a brilliant close-range finish on the on the right.

Butler was off target with the conversion attempt.

Warriors got themselves up and running in the 28th minute when George Horne finished off after a brilliant interchange with Stafford McDowall to become his club’s joint-highest scorer alongside DTH van der Merwe on 58.

Adam Hastings added the extras.

Butler added a penalty for Munster in the 33rd minute but the hosts closed the deficit to just one point at the interval as Steyn raced in from halfway and Hastings converted.

Another Butler penalty in the 56th minute gave the visitors some breathing space before they stretched their advantage to 11 points 10 minutes later when O’Brien surged in off the right for his second try of the night, with Rory Scannell kicking the conversion.

Glasgow were back in the game in the 70th minute when replacement Matt Fagerson bulldozed his way through, with Hastings converting.

And they eventually got their noses in front for the first time in the 76th minute when Nathan McBeth pushed over from close range following some sustained pressure in front of the line, with Hastings again clipping between the posts.

Meanwhile, Munster, who dropped to sixth, announced earlier that they will host an Argentina XV in Thomond Park on 1 November.

Glasgow: Kyle Rowe; Sebastian Cancelliere, Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn (capt); Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Patrick Schickerling; Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel; Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Jack Mann.

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, JP du Preez, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Seán O'Brien, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett. Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Gordon Wood, Rory Scannell.

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

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Accreditation: PA

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