Leinster continued their unbeaten march to the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship with a convincing bonus point 28-07 win over Munster at Thomond Park on Friday evening.
Munster initially "dominated", however, Leinster won a penalty from a scrum and kicked to the corner. Caelan Doris won the line out, and Leinster attacked around the front of the line-out. Munster did well to initially stop Ronan Kelleher, but they were caught sleeping, and Luke McGrath found acres of space next to a loose scrum to go in for the try. Sam Predergast converted to extend Leinster's lead to 07-0 after nine minutes of play in the first half.
A yellow card to Leinster's winger Tommy O’Brien after twenty minutes of play did "help" Munster in their defence of an ever-increasing Leinster attack.
The Leinster pressure off the ball forced Munster over their own try line and a five-metre scrum was awarded to Leinster. Munster conceded a penalty at the scrum and opted for the tap-and-go. Following wave after wave of attacks by Leinster on the Munster tryline the ball is eventually spread wide to Sam Prendergast who ran a great line to get in for the try untouched. Prendergast converted, upping his contribution to nine points to extend Leinster's lead to 14-00 with eight minutes to play in the first half.
It was an enthralling opening forty minutes but Munster will be kicking themselves for not converting scoring opportunities. Plenty of chances but Leinster have had the last laugh when it came to try lines on both ends of the pitch and that has been the difference. Leinster led 14-00 at the halftime break.
Munster had a fast start to the second half and set up camp in the Leinster's red zone. Munster tapped three penalties until Tom Ahren deservedly crashed over for Munster's first points of the match. Billy Burns added the extra two points to cut Leinster's lead to 14-07 after just four minutes of play in the second half.
Leinster steadily built their attack, Munster made it easy for Leinster, allowing them to attack with a lot of space available and a lack of defenders near the try line. Josh van der Flier scored Leinster's third try, whereafter, Sam Predergast extended Leinster's lead to 21-07 with the conversion.
Leinster sealed the bonus point win with a try by captain Caelan Doris, bulldozing his way over the Munster tryline. Ross Byrne converted to extend Leinster's lead to 28-07 with six minutes still to play in the second half.
Leinster deservedly added five log points to their URC total with the 28-07 win over a willing Munster.
Scorers:
Munster Rugby: Try: Tom Ahren. Conversion: Billy Burns.
Leinster Rugby: Tries: Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (3), Ross Byrne.
Teams:
Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Tom Ahren, 5 Tadgh Beirne, 4 Fineen Wycherley, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 John Ryan, 19 Brian Gleeson, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Ben O’Connor.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Jack Boyle. Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Lamour.
