Planet Rugby

Just the win for Munster

13th January 2013 14:37

Tommy O Donnell for Munster

On a run: Tommy O'Donnell

Munster recorded a 26-17 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Sunday but failed to claim a bonus-point that was key to their qualification hopes.

While not scoring four or more tries, Munster are still alive in the competition and know that they need five points against Racing next weekend.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara could be in trouble with the citing commissioner though after video replays showed him kick out at Edinburgh's Sean Cox.

Munster did not have it all their own way in the match and it took until the 53rd minute until they crossed for the game's opening try, referee Greg Garner running under the posts for a penalty try following scrum pressure five metres out.

It was Edinburgh who finished the stronger of the two sides, however, with two tries from wing Dougie Fife - their first of the European campaign.

Munster move past Racing Metro into second place in Pool 1 on 15 points but will need to beat their rivals and await results from elsewhere.

Edinburgh put early pressure on the Munster line, but the visitors were able to pressurise their way out of that situation, and became the dominant side as the first half wore on.

The first half was try-less, with four Ronan O'Gara penalties scored to Greig Laidlaw's one, and 12-3 ahead at the break, Munster had it all to do if they were to reach their four try target.

Dave Kilcoyne was yellow-carded early in the second period, but his side were still on top.

When Greig Laidlaw was yellow carded for pushing a ball dead, the forceful Munster scrum earned themselves the first try of the game, with referee Garner awarding a penalty try.

Back to a full complement, Munster turned the screw, passing the ball along their back line, and it was scrum-half Conor Murray who scored the second, with a pick and go from great driving work by his forwards.

But Edinburgh were not to be outdone altogether, and as the game entered its final phase, Doug Fife scored his side's first Heineken Cup try of the season with eight minutes to play, as his back line stretched Munster.

The winger got his second only minutes later, stretching down between the posts, for Laidlaw to convert easily.

While Munster had sought the try-scoring bonus, the game ended with Edinburgh looking for their first point of the campaign, with a losing bonus. That wasn't to be, as the game finished with Munster on the charge, and Laidlaw's kick to touch ended the game.

The scorers:

For Edinburgh:
Try: Fife 2
Con: Laidlaw 2
Pen: Laidlaw
Yellow card: Laidlaw (54 minutes - deliberate slap down)

For Munster:
Tries: Penalty, Murray
Con: O'Gara 2
Pen: O'Gara 4
Yellow card: Kilcoyne (49 minutes - not ten metres)

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Richie Rees, 8 David Denton, 7 Dimitri Basilaia, 6 Stuart McInally, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Steven Lawrie, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Piers Francis, 22 Ben Atiga, 23 Sep Visser.

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Doug Howlett (c), 13 Keith Earls, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damian Varley, 1 David Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Wian Du Preez, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Casey Laulala.

Referee: Greg Garner (England)

Comments

munster30 says...

@ atg77

prove me wrong mate. Havent seen the Scots cut anyone apart with incisive running in a while. Like i said, ye are brilliant at recycling and lateral movement but the penetration is lacking, in Scotland AND in Munster.

As for loosing over in Murrayfield? Yes I'd be very surprised. About as surprised as the Scottish media would be with a win at the moment. Don't think we're lost a competitive match over there since 2001?

Posted 12:11 14th January 2013

tha_mai says...

more afternoon games please - suits me, around 8pm Thai-time Sunday night rugby. My long-distance Edinburgh support did no good.

Question for the law men. An early attacking Edinburgh scrum and their 8 moved from his position between locks to one between lock and flanker while scrum in progress/ball under locks feet. Legal?

Posted 23:43 13th January 2013

atg77 says...

@Munster30. If your attitude towards Scottish rugby is a reflection of your fellow countrymen, your national team will get a very rude awakening when they come to Murrayfeild in the six nations... and loose...

Posted 21:28 13th January 2013

ArmchairGeneral says...

Munster blew it before the kick off. If they'd made statements like... "First and foremost we need to win this game against a side that has great HC pedigree and we will think about the bonus point only if its on after half time"... Instead of saying they must get the bonus point win vs Edinburgh which gave away the approach they would take and with the insult gave Edinburgh more desire and a realistic goal in a game they probably could not win and they would have put all their training into defence and spoiling.

Posted 21:19 13th January 2013

melkdave says...

Well Mubster still in with a chance,its going to depend on Racing,and what their prourity is goingto be ,and if they play.If they play Munster are going to have to play alot better than they have so far imo,To progressfuther in the HC,as to Leinster i think they wont make it ,just cant see them geting a bonus point at Exeter tbh,and even so Munster stand a better chance at wining against Racing ,now they cant qualify.

Posted 16:04 13th January 2013

munster30 says...

god i thought munster were awful today! looked all at sea. all they did was move the ball back and forth across the pitch. No offense but it was like watching the Scottish play. Good hands, recycling the ball well but absolutely no penetration. If it wasnt for the penalty try giving them some momentum you got the feeling they might not score a try at all! Absolutely no leadership out there for the last 20 minutes when cool heads were needed. Allowing the poorest team in the competition to score its first 2 trys shows you exactly where Munster are at the moment. Long way to go to get back to their best. If Munster make it to the 1/4 finals it will be as far as they go!

Posted 15:40 13th January 2013

paddy91317 says...

what does this mean for leinster?

Posted 14:53 13th January 2013

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