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Spitting accusation made as Munster secure URC quarter-final spot

Limerick , Ireland - 16 May 2026; Michael Ala'alatoa of Munster celebrates his sides third try scored by teammate Tom Ahern, not pictured during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Lions at Thomond Park in Limerick. (Photo By Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Munster secured their spot in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals with a 24-17 win over Lions at Thomond Park.

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An early try from Evan O’Connell, barging through from close range, was soon cancelled out when Lions full-back Quan Horn darted over after 15 minutes. JJ Hanrahan put Munster back in front with a penalty, before Andrew Smith and then Sean O’Brien were both shown yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons.

Kelly Mpeku reduced the deficit late in the first half when he ran in, but Craig Casey edged across before the buzzer to give Munster a slender 17-14 lead at the break.

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Tom Ahern gave the home side some breathing space when he crashed over under the posts in the 54th minute after a break from Casey, with Hanrahan adding the extras.

There was a stoppage just after the hour following an allegation of spitting by Munster replacement Diarmuid Barron. However, but the TMO was unable to verify anything obvious from the Lions players during the rucks. After a lengthy delay, play resumed with the incident likely to be sent for a disciplinary citing commission.

United Rugby Championship

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Glasgow
18
13
5
0
65
2
Leinster
18
12
6
0
63
3
Stormers
18
12
5
1
60
4
Bulls
18
12
6
0
59
5
Munster
18
11
7
0
55
6
Cardiff Rugby
18
11
7
0
55
7
Lions
18
10
7
1
54
8
Connacht
18
10
8
0
54
9
Ulster
18
9
8
1
52
10
Sharks
18
8
9
1
46
11
Ospreys
18
7
9
2
39
12
Edinburgh
18
7
11
0
38
13
Benetton
18
6
10
2
33
14
Scarlets
18
4
12
2
28
15
Dragons RFC
18
3
11
4
28
16
Zebre
18
2
16
0
15

Sean O’Brien raced back to just deny Angelo Davids as he looked to ground a kick down the line into the right corner as Munster’s defensive line dug in to repel a push from the Lions to see out the closing stages and secure fifth spot in the table as well as a place in the Champions Cup next season.

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Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Kendellen.

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions: Quan Horn, Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids, Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg; SJ Kotze, PJ Botha, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg, Siba Mahashe, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horn (C)

Replacements: Morne Brandon, Eddie Davids, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius, Haashim Pead, Rhynhardt Jonker

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Comments

10 Comments
D
DT 30 days ago

No more than you would expect form dirty Saffas

B
Bazzallina 30 days ago

Would farting in an opponents face require TMO intervention? And if so do they have access to thermal imaging? Or could that only be decided on field by refs thru sound snd smell?

T
Tiger 31 days ago

Stormers tactics poor to naive. Needed a win, but twice took 3pts when trailing by 5 or more thus inviting Cardiff back into Stormers 22m area, where, both times, Cardiff went over the line, except, luckily, the 1st was reversed due to a marginal knock on. We had only 14 men when taking the second 3 pointer so could not defend the try. This is poor captaincy, tactics, and shocking decision making. Rugby 101 - never take 3pts and allow your opponents back into your half unless already ahead by 8 or more points!!! A school’s U16 captain would have done better.

J
JJ 31 days ago

Lots of gamesmanship from Munster, The argy-bargy when they reduced to 13 men that ran a minute off the clock. The fake injury to Casey for a break in play with Munster under the cosh. The fake allegation of spitting. All classic Munster gamesmanship and a referee who was naive to put it mildly.

D
DP 31 days ago

Zero titles. Showing the rugby fraternity what their club is all about. Pity Rassie isn’t still around to raise their standards…

W
Wayneo 31 days ago

Just want to know if it was one of those runny ones or one that required chewing before sending it?

J
J Marc 31 days ago

“ The TMO was unable to verify…”, a french TV director for sure….

P
PR 31 days ago

Not sure if the spitting allegation is true or not but, beyond that, Munster’s on-field behaviour was ludicrously OTT. Bulging eyes and high-fives every couple of minutes and Craig Casey (someone with the biggest case of small-man syndrome I have ever seen) walking in lock-step with the referee to try and get Lions players sent off. In one instance he was standing next to the ref while the TMO was checking a non-existent head contact saying something like: “That’s definite head contact - look there ‘Bang’”. Just undignified behaviour from a captain and the chief cheerleader of plastic energy. Let’s see how far that gets them at Loftus.

E
Ed the Duck 31 days ago

Par for the course in that part of the world.

u
unknown 31 days ago

Spitting is a repulsive thing to do to anyone and I would never try to alleviate the matter but one thing did confuse me. Why was he down on one knee receiving medical attention ? Was it a really big heavy spit ? Did someone spit bullets at him ? Or was he just being typical of today’s attention seeking sportsmen ?

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