Munster cling on to triumph in ‘clash of the champions’
Munster 21
Crusaders 19
Daire Walsh
A wayward stoppage-time conversion strike from Rivez Reihana proved crucial at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last night as Munster held out to secure a marquee friendly victory against Crusaders.
In their first game at the home of Cork GAA since defeating a South Africa Select XV a little under 15 months ago, the Irish province got the better of their Super Rugby counterparts – who are now under the guidance of former Munster head coach Rob Penney.
In a game that was dubbed the “Clash of the Champions”, a Munster side shorn of several first-choice players broke the deadlock through a typically clinical Gavin Coombes finish with 15 minutes gone in the contest.
The United Rugby Championship title holders had a second try ruled out when Shane Daly was adjudged to have been held up in his efforts to dot down beyond the whitewash, but another excellent Coombes five-pointer in the 34th minute (supplemented by Joey Carbery’s second conversion of the half) increased their advantage.
Crusaders had shown glimpses of their potential, however, and with Mitchell Drummond finishing off a sweeping breakaway move that was followed by a Taha Kemara conversion, Munster interval lead stood at only 14-7.
The visitors from the southern hemisphere had to showcase their defensive strengths to prevent Munster from crossing over for a third just shy of the hour mark, but even though the Christchurch powerhouses remained in arrears, this all changed inside the final quarter. Latching onto a Reihana pass, Dallas McLeod make a break for the left corner and expertly held off a challenge from Shane Daly to reach over for an excellent try.
Reihana’s successful conversion left the game perfectly poised, but Munster held their composure and the replacement hooker Scott Buckley drove powerfully over the line on 70 minutes for a converted try that offered his side much-needed breathing space.
The prospect of a draw appeared on the cards when Jamie Hannah applied the finishing touches to a Crusaders line-out maul in time added on but, much to the relief of a partisan crowd, Reihana couldn’t supply the extras to this five-pointer.
Scorers: Munster: Tries Coombes 2 (15 mins, 34), S Buckley (70). Cons Carbery 3 (16, 35, 71). Crusaders: Tries M Drummond (38), D McLeod (64), J Cahill (82). Cons T Kemara (39), R Reihana (66).
Munster S Daly; S O’Brien (C Hogan 76), A Frisch, A Nankivell (R Scannell 55), S McCarthy (T Butler 66); J Carbery, E Coughlan (N Cronin 55); J Wycherley (M Donnelly 69), E Clarke (S Buckley 50), S Archer (J Ryan 50); G Coombes, F Wycherley (K Nowak 78); R Quinn (J Daly 71), A Kendellen, J O’Sullivan (D Okeke 80).
Crusaders L Halfpenny (H Murray 17); C Fihaki, L Aumua (R Crotty 52), D McLeod, M Springer; T Kemara (R Reihana 52), M Drummond (N Hotham 52); G Bower (K Sykes-Martin 50), G Bell (I Moananu 50 (J Southall 76)), O Franks (S Calder 50); Q Strange, T Cahill (J Hannah 53); D Gardiner, T Christie, C Grace (C Lio-Willie 53).
Referee C Busby (IRFU).