Spitting accusation made as Munster secure URC quarter-final spot

Munster secured their spot in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals with a 24-17 win over Lions at Thomond Park.

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.

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.

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