Munster Rugby extend rich history against touring sides as Argentina XV succumb at Thomond Park

MUNSTER Rugby claimed the notable scalp of another international touring side when recording an exciting 31-28 victory over an Argentina XV in an entertaining fixture watched by an attendance of 15,054 at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Clayon McMillan's winning run as Munster head coach was extended to six games as the URC high-flyers scored five tries in accounting for an Argetina XV side which included three full internationals in their line-up.

It was the perfect way for Munster to sign off on their opening batch of fixtures this season before the upcoming break for the autumn internationals.

A confident Munster side, who boasted five wins from five in the United Rugby Championship prior to kick-off, were full value for this latest win in their rich history against touring sides. 

Out-half Tony Butler sparkled, scoring two fine tries, while Limerick second-row Ecan O'Connell, number eight Gavin Coomes abd centre Sean O'Brien also dotted down.

Munster were 10 points to the good, 31-21, with the match clock in their red, when the visitors, struck for their third try of the contest.

This was the second time that Munster played Argentina in Limerick, the first being in 1973 when the score was 12-12.

Head coach Clayon McMillan made 11 changes to the starting side for the clash from the one which played Connacht seven days earlier in the URC, with Jack O’Donoghue set to lead out the side, as he did against South Africa in 2022.

This selection brought to 47 the number of Munster players deployed in matchday squads across the opening five rounds of the URC.

Cork man Conor Ryan made his starting debut alongside the excitring O’Connell with Max Clein and former Ireland under-20 star Luke Murphy making their first runouts from the bench.

This was the Argentina XV's side's third match of 2025, following a successful July window with two victories: one against Brazil (45-17) and the other against Romania (52-12).

The Argentina XV enjoyed the lions share of territory and possession inside the opening quarter of an hour.

However, Munster succeeded in keeping the visitors at bay until the 18th minute when they opened the scoring.

Argentina full-back Tobias Wade collected a kick ahead from Munster's Mike Haley, before counter-attacking with a chip and chase of his own.

Wade collected his kick and passed inside to centre Faustino Sanchez Valarolo who raced cleared before dotting down. Out-half Julian Hernandez duly added the extras top make it 7-0. 

If Munster were rocked by the concession of that score, it didn't show as the home side hit back quickly with a try of their own.

A series of powerful carries inside the Argentin '22 saw Mike Haley and Gavin Coombes combined effectively. Munster retained possession impressively and Josh Wycherley found second-row Evan O'Connell on his shoulder who dotted down from close range.

It was a senior try in Munster red for 21-year-old O'Connell, nephew of former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain Paul O'Connell, a key member of the Ireland backroom team for Saturday's Test fixture with New Zealand in Chicago.

Paddy Butler's conversion, which would have tied the scores if successful, cannoned back off the right hand upright. 

Munster lost Mike Haley to an unfortunate injury in the 26th minute and he was replaced by former Ireland U20 star Ben O'Connor.

Munster took great confidence from that opening try and the crowd roared their approval in the 31st minute when the home side won a scrum penalty on the 10-metre line against a traditionally strong scrummaging pack.

Out-half Tony Butler opted to kick the penalty award inside the visitors '22. 

The Munster line-out to the back didn't go to hand, but an alert Butler seized on the loose ball and showed a terrific turn of pace to speed past several Argentine defenders before touching down.

The Munster play-maker was just off target with the difficult conversion attempt in windy conditions. However, Clayon McMillan's side led 10-7. 

The scoreline remained that way at half-time. 

Munster were quickest out of blocks at the start of the second half when pouncing for their third try of the game. 

First half tryscorer O'Connell took a clean line-out off the top before setting up Gavin Coombes who ranmpaged forward. Munster retained possession through Lee Barron and Wycherley before Coombes burrowed over the Argentine tryline from close range.

Butler then added the straight forward conversion attempt to push the home side's lead out to 10 points at 17-7. 

Any thoughts the home supporters may have had of this being a comfortable second half were dispelled before the 50th minute.

Munster were reduced to 14 players when scrum-half Paddy Patterson was yellow-carded for a trip on Argentina centre Leonardo Gea Salim inside the jhome side's '22. 

The visitors took full advantage of their extra man when opting to kick the resultant penalty award to touch. 

They won clean possession from the line-out and from a powerfully executed maul saw the Argentine pack power their way over the tryline with hooker Leonel Oviedo gainin the touchdown.

Hernandez duly converted and the Munster lead was down to three points at 17-14.

The plentiful supply of scores in an entertaining see-saw battle continued soon after when Munster struck for their four try.

Coombes caught a kick from the visitors just inside his own half. The number powered forward before being tackled.

Substitute Ben O'Connor combined with Jack O'Donoghue, who made two telling contributions to the try-scoring move including sending Butler away to score his second try of the game. 

The out-half also added the extras and suddenly Munster's lead was out to 10 points, 24-14. 

However, the sizeable advantage was short-lived as the Arentina XV countered from inside their own half, with centre Leonardo Gea Salim sending winger Santiago Pernas over for their third try.

The succesdful conversion cut the Munster lead to just three points, 24-21, at the start of the final quarter.

However, to their credit credit and roared on by the passionate home supporters, Munster hit back to score their fifth try of the game.

This time centre Sean O'Brien took advantage of some slack Argentine defence following a line-out to surge clear and score. 

Butler's successful conversion increased the Munster advantage to 10 points, 31-21, with 10 minutes remaining.  

Argentina did strike for a late try from Tobias Wade, but it was Munster's night by then. 

SCORERS: Munster Rugby: Tony Butler two tries, three cons Evan O'Connell, Gavin Coombes, Sean O'Brien try each.

Argentina XV: Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, Leonel Oviedo, Santiago Pernas, Tobias Wade try each, Julian Hernandez three cons, Bautista Farise con. 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Fionn Gibbons, Seán O’Brien, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Lee Barron, Ronan Foxe; Conor Ryan, Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue (Capt), Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Ben O'Connor for Haley (injured, 26 mins), Max Clein for Barron, Mark Donnelly for Wycherley, Kieran Ryan for Foxe, Jake O'Riordan for Patterson (all 59 mins), JJ Hanrahan for Kilgallen (63 mins), Luke Murphy for Quinn (68 mins), Fineen Wycherley for O'Connell (70 mins).

ARGENTINA XV: Tobias Wade; Santiago Pernas, Leonardo Gea Salim, Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, Mateo Soler; Julian Hernandez, Alejo Sugasti; Matias Medrano, Leonel Oviedo, Francisco Moreno; Lautaro Simes, Federico Albrisi; Nicolas D’Amorim, Aitor Bildosola, Juan Cruz Perez Rachel. Replacements: Juan Pedro Bernasconi for Aitor Bildosola (injured 25-35 mins), Juan Pedro Bernasconi for Simes (59 mins), Juan Manuel Vivas for Oviedo, Diego Correa for Medrano, Octavio Filippa for Moreno (all 63 mins), Estanislao Pregot for Sugasti, Bautista Farise for Gea Salim (both 65 mins).

Juan Manuel Vivas, Diego Correa, Octavio Filippa, Lorenzo Colidio, Juan Pedro Bernasconi, Estanislao Pregot, Bautista Farise, Agustin Fraga

REFEREE: Angus Gardner