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A gritty backs-to-the-wall effort saw Munster overcome Simon Zebo’s early sending-off to defeat Ulster 18-13 in the United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park.
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Zebo was red-carded for a high tackle in the 15th minute and Ulster, with Rob Herring having earlier touched down, sensed a first victory in Limerick since May 2014.
Two Nathan Doak penalties, in response to a couple of Jack Crowley three-pointers, had the visitors leading 13-6 until Munster rallied.
Inspired by Tadhg Beirne, the men in red closed the gap with a Mike Haley try before replacement Alex Kendellen scored the match winner with five minutes remaining.
Beirne came in late to captain Munster on his 30th birthday, standing in for Peter O’Mahony who was withdrawn following the warm-up, while Kendellen had been drafted in to take Beirne’s place on the bench.
Following two recent postponements, Ulster’s eager forwards delivered a seventh-minute maul try for Herring, which John Cooney converted.
Munster suffered an even bigger blow when Zebo’s shoulder made contact with the face of Ulster full-back Mike Lowry. TMO Brian MacNeice’s input led to referee Mike Adamson reaching for his red card.
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Strong carries from John Hodnett and Thomas Ahern sparked a furious Munster spell near the Ulster line. Crowley popped over a penalty and added a second one after Sam Carter was slow to roll away.
Jamie Heaslip had no doubt that Simon Zebo's red card for Munster was fully deserved. #RTERugby #RTESport #URC #MUNvULS pic.twitter.com/7piLyUnMix
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 8, 2022
However, Doak, who replaced the injured Cooney, made it 10-6 just before half-time and Ulster exerted maul pressure again on the resumption.
Ahern thwarted Dan McFarland’s men with two impressive line-out steals, before a big Tom O’Toole-led scrum set up a long-range penalty from Doak for 13-6.
The numbers were evened up when Ulster replacement Kieran Treadwell was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Shane Daly. Munster immediately took advantage, Craig Casey’s superb long pass putting Haley over out wide.
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Crowley hit the post with the difficult conversion from the right and Doak was short with a monster penalty attempt.
Ultimately, Munster showed the greater hunger, led by the brilliant Beirne, whose breakdown smarts were a key factor throughout.
Replacement Jack O’Donoghue wriggled through into the 22, Fineen Wycherley was stopped short, but the ball popped back for a well-placed Kendellen to score and Ben Healy converted.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments