Munster Rugby too good for Baa-Baas in spectacular 13-try contest at Thomond Park

MUNSTER Rugby recorded an exciting 52-35 victory over the Barbarians in a highly entertaining 13-try spectacular before an official attendance of 10,427 at Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon.

Munster scored eight tries in their final pre-season fixture before the province begins the defence of their United Rugby Championship title at home to the Sharks on October 21.

The Barbarians contributed handsomely to the entertaining nature of the game as the persistent rainfall of earlier in the day cleared in time for kick-off to facilitate an enterprising approach from both sides.

This was a second successive friendly win for this youthful Munster side following their success in Galway eight days ago. Their 18-week pre-season will finally come to an end when South African side the Sharks visit Thomond Park in three weeks' time.

A minute’s applause for Greig Oliver was observed ahead of kick-off at Thomond Park on Saturday. The Munster Rugby Elite Player Development Officer tragically passed away in Cape Town in July at the age of just 58.

Munster Academy players Ethan Coughlan, Edwin Edogbo, Shay McCarthy, Tony Butler, Mark Donnelly, Brian Gleeson and Fionn Gibbons were all included in the squad for the historic first time that a Munster men's side had played the Baa-Baas.

Edogbo started on his first senior appearance of 2023/24 with 19-year-old Gleeson also making his senior debut for Munster in the game after late call-up in starting team after Gavin Coombes was ruled out. The powerful Garryowen FC back-row, a Grand Slam-winning Ireland U20 from last season had a game to remember, scoring two of Munster's tries.

Limerick's Evan O'Connell coming onto the replaceents' bench and then being introduced in the second half.

The Barbarians travelling party included France internationals Virimi Vakatawa and Sofiane Guitoune, while Fiji’s Leone Nakarawa also lined out at Thomond Park in the historic clash.

Munster got off to the best possible start when striking for an eighth minute try through Diarmuid Barron, who showed a good turn of pace to score having been out into space by a rampaging run from flanker Jack Daly.

Joey Carbery also added the extras for 7-0.

Munster doubled their advantage on the quarter hour mark when playmaker Carbery scampered over. The out-half converted his own try for a significant 14-0 advantage.

The enterprising approach from both sides in dying conditions made for an attractive spectacle. The Baa-Baas hit back with their opening try when out-half Julien Dumora floated out a delightful pass for full-back Nans Ducuing to collect and race away to the tryline.

Dumora's conversion made it 14-7 after 24 minutes.

Munster's response was quick and decisive. Debutant Gleeson barged over from close range for the home side's third try of the afternoon, with Carbery's successful conversion restoring the 14-point advantage at 21-7 on 25 minutes.

That advantage was short-lived however as the see-saw nature of the scoring continued when Baa-Baas flanker Aaron Shingler struck for their second try. Dumora's conversion made it a seven point game just after the half hour mark.

The sides were then tied, 21-21 each, at half-time, after the Baa-Baas hit Munster for their third converted try just before half-time. 

Munster then made a lightning quick start to the second half with two tries inside three minutes of the restart from debutant Gleeson and exciting young winger Shay McCarthy.

Carbery converted both for a 35-21 advantage to the home side. 

It was double scores, 42-21, soon after when prop Josh Wycherley got in on the try-scoring act dotting down after a bout of enterprising Munster player, with Carbery adding his sixth conversion of the game. 

Back came Barbarians and Lucas Tauzin dotted down in the right corner with Dumora again adding the extras.

Both sides emptied their replacements' bench as the half wore on, the Barbarians introducing Josh Brennan among their contingent.

The try-fest continued into the final quarter as Fineen Wycherley touched down for Munster, before Kirby Myhill replied with a five-pointer for the Baa-Baas in the 68th minute to leave 12 points between the sides at 47-35.

Munster then broke upfield with the final attack of the game as Ethan Coughlan linked up with his fellow scrum-half Neil Cronin who produced an excellent finish to bag an eighth try of the game for the home side.

SCORERS: Munster Rugby: Brian Gleeson two tries, Diarmuid Barron, Shay McCarthy, Josh Wycherley, Fineen Wycherley, Neil Cronin try each, Joey Carbery try, six cons. Barbarians: Nans Ducuing two tries, Aaron Shingler, Lucas Tauzin, Kirby Myhill try each, Julien Dumora five cons.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly; Shay McCarthy, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Joey Carbery, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Jack Daly, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: Niall Scannell for Barron (46 mins), Neil Cronin for Coughlan (50 mins), John Ryan for Archer (51 mins), Fionn Gibbons for McCarthy (52 mins), Tom Ahern for Odogbo (54 mins), Mark Donnelly for Wycherley (58 mins), Tony Butler for Carbery (59 mins), Evan O'Connell for Fineen Wycherley (65 mins), Ethan Couglan for Nash (69 mins), Josh Wycherley for Donnelly (69 mins).

BARBARIANS: Nans Ducuing; Lucas Tauzin, Jean-Baptiste Dubié, Sofiane Guitoune, Toby Arnold; Julien Dumora, Jonathan Ruru; Rodrigue Neti, Kristian Dacey, Vadim Cobîlaș; Loann Goujon, Piula Faʻasalele; Baptiste Heguy, Aaron Shingler, Leone Nakarawa. Replacements: Tevita Tatafu for Vadim Cobîlaș half-time, Kirby Myhill for  Dacey, Josh Brennan for Goujon (both 50 mins), Rob Evans for Neti, Damien Hoyland for Tauzin (both 56 mins), Max Green for Ruru (57 mins), Giovanni Licata for Nakarawa (59mins), Piula Faʻasalele for Goujon (62 mins), Lucas Tauzin for Dubié (63 mins), Leone Nakarawa for Shinger (66 mins), Jonathan Ruru for Ducuing (74 mins).

REFEREE: Frank Murphy (IRFU)