Munster Rugby score hard-earned bonus point win over Scarlets in URC

MUNSTER Rugby secured a dominant 29-8 bonus point victory over the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship in front of an official attendance of 13,714 at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Munster's 10th win on the bounce against Welsh opposition in the URC has seen the 2023 league winners jump up to fifth place in the table. 

Munster, who enjoyed a whopping 69% of possession in the opening period, led 7-3 at the end of a disappointing first half, the home side's points coming courtesy of a try from Limerick winger Shay McCarthy, who was introduced as an early replacement.

Out-half Billy Burns added the extras for the home side who had another first half try from Tom Ahern chalked off for a knock-on.

Munster added four further tries in the second half, including two from Man of the Match Gavin Coombes, while Alex Kendellen and Tom Farrell also dotted down.

With the Six Nations Championship back centre stage next weekend as Ireland travel to Cardiff to face Wales, Munster will return to action in the URC in two weeks when hosting Edinburgh at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday, February 28, 7.35pm.

Munster will be pleased by the effectiveness of their scrum which was impressive all through, providing a reliable source of set-piece possession.

Munster's last defeat against a Welsh region was away to the Dragons in September 2022.

Munster have not lost at home to a Welsh opponent since the Scarlets, visited Thomond Park eight years ago.

And the Scarlets have not beaten Munster since a 10-6 win at Parc y Scarlets in March 2019.

Munster, who were missing Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray and Calvin Nash, made one change to the side that defeated Dragons last time out with prop Josh Wycherley returning from a neck injury to start.

The visiting Scarlets side Scarlets were boosted by the presence of four Wales squad members with Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Kemsley Mathias and Taine Plumtree starting.

The Scarlets managed to take the lead through a Ioan Lloyd penalty after 18 minutes while temporarily down to 14 men when Johnny Williams was binned for a deliberate knock-on after 11 minutes.

Munster went to the corner from that penalty, but while Tom Ahern finished the move after showing some neat footwork Billy Burns converted, the score was scrapped after TMO Stefano Roscini spotted a knock-on from Rory Scannell in the build-up.

However, Munster did manage to score a try in the 22nd minute when Shay McCarthy, an early replacement for the injured Diarmuid Kilgallen, made an instant impact when diving over for Munster’s first try of the match.

This excellent backline manoeuvre saw the ball offloaded to the Academy man by centre Tom Farrell. Burns converted, Munster managing to take advantage of the Scarlets being one man down, 7-3.

Munster will be disappointed they only led 7-3 at half-time despite their dominance in a low quality opening 40 minutes.

The home side's pressure told after the restart when influential number eight Coombs burrowed over three minutes into the second half.

Munster maintained their superiority while increasing their accuracy as Alex Kendellen crashed over. Several phases from a tapped penalty on the left ended in the right corner with flanker Kendellen getting over and Burns adding the extras to push it out to 19-3 after 52 minutes.

To their credit, an outplayed Scarlets side hit back with an excellent try from replacement Macs Page, on the field less than a minute, scored following a well-executed chip and chase down the right.

With just over 15 minutes left to play, Munster rubberstamped their bonus-point win.

Another well-executed scrum allowed the home side to kick a penalty to the corner, and just as he had earlier in the half the powerful Coombes was clinical from close range to score his second try of the game, which restored the 16-point lead at 24-8.

Winger Shane Daly picked up a yellow card in the last minutes of the game after a dangerous tackle, just before Tom Farrell forced his way over with the clock in the red. The difficult conversion from Tony Butler flew just wide.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Ben O'Connor (Highfield RFC/PBC), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC/PBC), Tom Farrell (Coolmine RFC/Castleknock College), Rory Scannell (PBC), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Naas RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Billy Burns (Beechen Cliff/Hartpury College), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC), Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Diarmuid Barron (Cashel RFC/Rockwell College), Oli Jager (Naas RFC/Newbridge College/Blackrock College), Tom Ahern (Youghal RFC/Dungarvan RFC/Waterpark RFC), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea), Jack O'Donoghue (CAPT) (Waterpark RFC), Alex Kendellen (PBC), Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC) Replacements: Shay McCarthy (Richmond RFC/St Munchin’s College) for Kilgallen (injured, 16 mins), Brian Gleeson (Thurles RFC/Rockwell College) for O’Donoghue (injured, half-time), John Hodnett (Clonakilty RFC) for Ahern (52 mins), Paddy Patterson (Blackrock College) for Coughlan, John Ryan (Muskerry RFC/CBC) for Jager, Kieran Ryan (Shannon RFC/St Munchin’s College) for J Wycherley (all 56 mins), Niall Scannell (PBC) for Barron, Tony Butler (Ennis RFC) for Burns (both 65).

SCARLETS: Ioan Nicholas (Pontyberem), Ellis Mee (West Bridgeford), Joe Roberts (Burry Port), Johnny Williams (Rams), Steff Evans (Felinfoel), Ioan Lloyd (CRICC), Gareth Davies (CAPT) (Newcastle Emlyn), Kemsley Mathias (Narberth), Marnus van der Merwe (Hoërskool Nelspruit), Archer Holz (Lightning Ridge Tigers RL / Eastern Suburbs), Max Douglas (Manly Marlins), Sam Lousi (Bay Roskill Vikings), Taine Plumtree (Old Boys University, Wellington), Dan Davis (Llandeilo), Vaea Fifita (Lions, Tonga). Replacements: Sam Wainwright (Rhyl) for Holz (injured, 13 mins), Alec Hepburn (Henley Hawks) for Mathias (46 mins), Alec Craig (Stewartry) for Plumtree (53 mins), Macs Page (Crymych) for Nicholas (56 mins), Ryan Elias (Carmarthen Athletic) for Mathias (57 mins), Jarrod Taylor (Western Province) for Davis (62 mins), Charlie Titcombe (Stanford) for Evans (73 mins).

REFEREE: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)