Munster Rugby return to winning ways after hard fought victory over Lions in URC

MUNSTER Rugby recorded their third victory of the United Rugby Championship against the Emirates Lions in Thomand Park on Saturday evening.

The home side defeated the South Africa side 17-10. 

Ian Costello's charges produced a strong half performance to secure a hard fought victory. Tries from Thaakir Abrahams, Shane Daly and Alex Kendellen proved crucial for Munster.

Waterford man Jack O'Donoghue was instrumental and he was awarded the Man of the Match accolade in front of an official attendance of 11836.

Paul O'Connell's nephew Evan and new signing Dian Bleuler were handed debuts in Saturday night's game. Munster were looking to get things back on track after a disappointing start to the URC where they only managed to win two of their opening six games.

The Lions came into this clash on the back of an impressive start to the URC.

After ten minutes, Munster held onto the ball and tried to work a scoring opportunity. The home side struggled to break down a stubborn Lions defence who made things difficult for their opponents. 

Munster were starting to apply pressure and the 2023 URC champions got rewarded for their efforts when Thaakir Abrahams drove over the line to score for his first try for the province.

Out-half Billy Burns nailed the resulting conversion to put Munster 7-0 up after 16 minutes. New summer signing Abrahams made his return from injury on Saturday evening. 

The Lions enjoyed the majority of possession after that. On 28 minutes, they made their dominance count when the Johannesburg outfit pounced on a mistake from Munster at the breakdown.

Hooker PJ Botha played the ball out wide to Jarod Cairns who then offloaded to Henco Van Wyk. Van Wyk made a fantastic run and the Lions centre turned on the afterburners to score his side's first try. Kade Wolhuter tapped over the conversion, the teams were now deadlocked 7-7 after 28 minutes. 

Wolhuter pushed the Lions into the lead for the first time when he made no mistake from a close range penalty after 32 minutes. Munster struggled to make any in-roads in the remaining eight minutes of the first half. The Lions led 10-7 at the break. 

Munster lost Mike Haley to a head injury assessment at the interval. His replacement Shane Daly made a significant impact straight away when winger Abrahams offloaded the ball to him. Space opened up and Daly bagged Munster's second try of the evening. Billy Burns missed the conversion from a difficult angle. Munster led 12 -10 after 42 minutes. 

Eleven minutes later, Alex Kendellen scored Munster's third of try of the evening which meant the hosts were 17-10 in front.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell had released Kendellen back to Munster this week. The back-row was involved in the Irish camp during the autumn international series. Burns' conversion just went to the left and wide. 

In the remaining 27 minutes of the second half, Munster battled tremendously and showed some huge intensity at the breakdown. The home side searched desperately for a try bonus point, but in the end they will just be pleased to a secure a seven point victory. 

The game went right down to the wire and Munster just did enough in the end. 

Stade Francais will be Munster's next opponents in the Champions Cup on Saturday next, December 7 at Thomond Park, 5.35pm.

SCORERS:

MUNSTER: Tries: Thaakir Abrahams, Shane Daly and Alex Kendellen, Billy Burns; Cons

LIONS: Tries: Henco Van Wyk, Kade Wolhuter; Cons, 1 penalty

MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. REPLACEMENTS: Shane Daly for Haley (half-time, injured), Paddy Patterson for Coughlan (51 minutes), Stephen Archer for Ryan (55 minutes), John Hodnett for Kendellen (55 minutes), Niall Scannell for Barron, Tony Butler for Burns (both 60 minutes), Kieran Ryan for Bleuler (68 minutes), Ruadhan Quinn for O'Connell (71 minutes).

LIONS: Quan Horn; Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk,  Marius Louw (c), Edwill van der Merwe; Kade Wolhuter, Morne van den Berg; Juan Schoeman, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye; Ruben Schoeman, Ruan Delport;  Jarod Cairns, WJ Steenkamp,  Francke Horn. REPLACEMENTS: Sanele Nohamba for Wolhutter (44 minutes, injured), Franco Marais for Juan Schoeman, Morgan Naudé for Botha, Conraad van Vuuren for Ntlabakanye (all 55 minutes), Reinhard Nothnagel for Ruben Schoeman (57 minutes), Erich Cronjé for Van Wyk (69 minutes), JC Pretorius for Steenkamp (70 minutes), Tapiwa Mafura for Van Der Merwe (74 minutes).

REFEREE: Adam Jones (Wales)