Munster player ratings vs Leinster | 2023/24 URC round six
Munster player ratings live from Aviva Stadium: Twenty-seven weeks after Munster ambushed Leinster in Dublin, surprisingly winning a URC semi-final in a city where they hadn’t beaten the hosts since 2014, the bragging rights in this reignited Irish rivalry were restored to Leo Cullen’s side on a 21-16 scoreline.
With seasoned back-rowers Peter O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue unavailable for selection following knocks in last weekend’s grind versus the Stormers, Munster compromised by giving lock Tom Ahern a first start in the blindside role.
The inclusion of three academy players among the replacements – Brian Gleeson, Tony Butler and Shay McCarthy – further highlighted how thin their resources were for this round six encounter, but they gave it socks the whole way through and were especially great value for an early 10-0 lead that included a fantastic team try finished off by Craig Casey after they exploited Garry Ringrose’s missed tackle on Simon Zebo.
Indiscipline against a stacked Leinster lineup soon bit them, though. They were missing the yellow-carded Rory Scannell when Jamison Gibson-Park grabbed his cheap riposte from a terrible Tadhg Beirne error, and a penalty punted to touch five metres out after the sin-bin had elapsed then let to the converted Dan Sheehan try that have Leinster their 14-10 interval lead.
The second period was a half with regular momentum shifts. Munster intriguingly cut the gap to one point with a 53rd-minute Jack Crowley penalty, but their defiant effort was damaged by the missed Shane Daly tackle 13 minutes later on Jordan Larmour, the converted try pushing Leinster 21-13 clear.
? @MunsterRugby that was unbelievable ??
Craig Casey throwing down a statement in the Irish Derby ?#BKTURC #URC | #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/DBnfcyY2Ed
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 25, 2023
They commendably still stuck at it, a Crowley penalty the precursor to a period of pressure ignited by sub Conor Murray that threatened a dramatic score-levelling try. There was no spectacular end product, however.
The narrow loss will sting the champions but there were still numerous positives for boss Graham Rowntree to take with him down the M7 as the manner of his team’s overall performance highlighted the genuine progress they have taken this year and how this rivalry is most definitely the real thing after some years in the doldrums. Here are the Munster player ratings:
15. Simon Zebo – 6.5
What a reintroduction on his first start of the season and first Munster appearance with the No15 on his back since 2018, skittling the Leinster defence with his sixth-minute try-creating break. Penalised, though, for the breakdown for the penalty that Leinster kicked to touch and took a 35th-minute lead from.
14. Calvin Nash – 6.5
Lovely wheels when supporting the early Zebo break. Came back from a first-half HIA and his carry got his team 52nd-minute penalty points to close the gap to a point.
13. Antoine Frisch – 7.5
Swanky offload after joining the Zebo break for the Munster breakthrough. He had a meaty presence throughout, looking like the type of midfielder his team have been craving for years for.
12. Rory Scannell – 6.5
Linked play brilliantly in the staccato Munster start only to be yellow carded on 22 minutes with the then scoreless Leinster upping the ante near the try line.
11. Shane Daly – 6
It was his slick catch of Gibson-Park’s box kick that secured possession for the opening try and he also put in a huge tackle to put an end to Leinster’s first visit to the 22. His evening ended on the bum note, though, of letting Jordan Larmour slip from the grasp for the result-deciding try.
10. Jack Crowley – 8
Having celebrated last May’s winning score with a reprise of the iconic Ronan O’Gara celebration, he returned to the scene of that career-awakening performance to play with an illuminating swagger. His head-to-head with Ross Byrne didn’t materialise as the Leinster out-half was immediately injured but he was inventive in attack and brave in defence where a breakdown penalty turnover on 49 minutes on his 22-metre line was ace.
The pass, the bounce, the footwork ?@leinsterrugby extend their lead with a beauty from Jordan Larmour!#BKTURC #URC | #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/R4Fo0ghln3
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 25, 2023
9. Craig Casey – 7.5
Excellent finish for the try that gave Munster their fast start, his energy and quality of pass were so important to Munster. We also liked how he gave Gibson-Park an off-the-ball shove shortly before he exited to accommodate Conor Murray.
1. Jeremy Loughman – 6.5
Played 53 minutes and did well in getting his team in the contest at set-piece and breakdown.
2. Diarmuid Barron – 7.5
The skipper commendably played the full 80 with great grit and heart but he will he annoyed that it was his unprotected ball presentation on the floor that invited Caelan Doris to grab a pivotal steal with Munster threatening in the Leinster 22 late on.
3. Stephen Archer – 7
Munster’s most-capped player of all-time with this being his 269th appearance, he credibly lasted 58 minutes with perhaps his only regret being the concession of the scrum penalty that gave Leinster a much-needed in when they trailed 0-10.
4. Jean Kleyn – 7.5
Making his first club appearance since pocketing his Rugby World Cup medal, he was crucial to the Munster effort which put plenty of shackles on the speed of the Leinster background.
5. Tadhg Beirne – 6.5
Agonisingly short when Munster surged for a second try on 11 minutes, a frustration shared by Loughman on the recycle. He soon smacked Robbie Henshaw in the tackle but his display was ultimately marked down by the unnecessary offload he threw loose on halfway for the Gibson-Park try.
6. Tom Ahern – 7
A first start for the lock in the back row, he didn’t look out of place in going the distance.
7. John Hodnett – 7.5
Finished his team’s top tackler despite playing just 62 minutes. His best moment was a penalty-winning turnover a few minutes earlier on his team’s 22.
8. Gavin Coombes – 6.5
This was a big post-World Cup evening for him in front of Ireland boss Andy Farrell and he can’t be fully pleased with what he achieved. Frustrating moments included being on his knees to early when tackling the scoring, and the loss of ball in contact just minutes into the second half.
Replacements:
16. Scott Buckley – No rating
Unused sub.
17. Dave Kilcoyne – 6.5
First appearance since the World Cup, he helped Munster stay in the fight until the end during his 27 minutes.
18. John Ryan – 6.5
Was in New Zealand with the Chiefs when these teams last played. Horsed into it during his 22-minute involvement.
19. Brian Gleeson – No rating
Only played the closing 11 minutes for Kleyn.
20. Alex Kendellen – 6
Given the closing 18 minutes for the all-action Hodnett.
21. Conor Murray – 7.5
Sent on with 29 minutes remaining, he immediately showed his nous with the reverse pass to Nash in the lead-up to penalty points. Has the stadium in raptures with that brilliant blindside bread that gave Munster a late sniff of glory.
22. Tony Butler – No rating
Thown on for Scannell with seven minutes left.
23. Shay McCarthy – 6
Had 20 minutes in total in his two cameos, initially as the HIA sub for Nash where he would have got a buzz with Leinster knocking on as he chased his first Casey box kick. Returned on 68 minutes for Zebo.
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Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments