WATCH: Resilient Munster Rugby edge past Edinburgh to maintain winning URC start

MUNSTER Rugby ground out a hard fought 20-19 bonus point victory over Edinburgh in front of a sell-out attendance of 8,800 at Virgin Media Park on Friday night to extend their winning start in the URC to three games.

Munster, who trailed 10-12 at half-time to their gritty Scottish opponents, had a brace of tries from prop Michael Milne, one in either half, while Andrew Smith, early on, and Fineen Wycherley also dotted down in the final 10 minutes.

The win, and the manner in which it was achieved in a fiercely competitive fixture, is a big boost to Munster ahead of their glamour inteprovincial clash with Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday next, 5.15pm.

READ NEXT: Limerick's seven senior clubs target All-Ireland League wins

Munster recovered from falling nine points in arrears, 10-19, with half an hour remaining to secure a precious victory.

Clayton McMillan's Munster side took advantage of four yellow cards for Edinburgh to squeeze home by a single point in Cork.

Clayton McMillan shares his thoughts after @Munsterrugby's win tonight

"Some days we're not going to be at our best but we can fight to the bitter end and fight for everything, and I thought we did that well today" ️ pic.twitter.com/LlQTpXr9us

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 10, 2025

Wycherley's late try was enough to maintain the 2023 champions' winning start to the United Rugby Championship, while the visitors will rue those moments of ill-discipline as they endured a second narrow away loss of the campaign.

Munster will be acutely aware that the visitors made a significant contribution to their own downfall on Friday night, racking up 12 penalties as well as those four yellow cards. 

Despite all this, in the final play of the game, the Scottish side had rolled their way into the Munster '22, thanks to a well-executed driving maul. 

However, any prospect of former Munster out-half Ben Healy getting the opportunity to snatch victory with a last gasp drop goal ended as the home side legally halted the maul and referee Whitehouse awarded a turnover in possession. Munster had ground out victory, much to the delight of the home supporters in a capacity attendance.  

The result means Munster’s only defeat at Virgin Media Park since 2019 remaisn their 28-34 reverse to Edinburgh last February.

Prior to kick-off on Friday night, Edinburgh have visited Cork on ten previous occasions, winning on their first visit in 2004 and
on their two most recent games there in 2019 and February 2025.

What a start for @Munsterrugby

Andrew Smith with an early try to get his side on the board against Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/aArM53ytQ2

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 10, 2025

Both sides had scored unconverted tries within the opening seven minutes. Munster opened the scoring when a quick line-out from winger Andrew Smith inside the Edinburgh half caught the Scottish side out. 

Smith found fellow wing Calvin Nash and the Irish international chipped through and a footrace ensued with Smith gaining the vital touchdown.

Bossing the breakdown area, Edinbugh were soon on tersm as Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman then replied with a try from a driving maul to tie the scores at 5-5.

Edinburgh scrum-half Ben Vellacott then sniped over for a close range score soon after a home line-out was snaffled, with Ben Healy adding the extras after his earlier effort came back off the post for 12-5.

Munster lost tighhead prop Oli Jager to injury soon after, a blow to the province with key interprovincial clashes on the horizon. The management team will hope that the injury is not serious.

57 nóim #MUNVEDI@Munsterrugby - 15@EdinburghRugby - 19

Na Muimhnigh. ar ais sa gcluiche arís le Michael Milne ag aimsiú a dara úd

Munster back in the game as Michael Milne gets his second try@URCOfficial @IrishRugby #URC pic.twitter.com/Pid5U29vFo

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 10, 2025

Then came two yellows for the visitors in space of two minutes, with temporary replacement Glen Young infringing on the goal-line and D'arcy Rae guilty of a high tackle on Munster full-back Mike Haley.

Munster made their 15 v 13 advantage tell as prop Michael Milne crashed through to mark his first start of the season.

JJ Hanrahan again watched his kick drift wide as the home side trailed by two points at the change of ends. 

Back to their full complement, Edinburgh stretched their lead with a well-worked Darcy Graham try as the Scotland winger seized on a delighful cross-field kick from James Lang and Healy popped over the conversion to help the visitors into a two-score, 19-10, advantage.

Fit-again Munster lock Edwin Edogbo received a huge ovation from the home supporters were sprung from the bench for his first involvement in 22 months after recovering a serious Achilles injury.

Milne's second barrelling try followed a breakdown entry yellow for Freddy Douglas and the margin was down to four points, 15-19.

Edinburgh were again down a player when the impressive Wycherley bundled over after 73 minutes, with visiting captain Magnus Bradbury having been sent to the bin for a croc-roll.

In a hectic finish, Munster number eight Gavin Coombes plunged over with the clock at 80 minutes, only for the score to be chalked off by the TMO for an earlier knock-on.

Munster ultimately repelled Edinburgh's last gasp effort to overhaul them as the focus now firmly switches to next weekend's big derby clash with Leinster at GAA HQ.

SCORERS: Munster Rugby: Michael Milne two tries, Andrew Smith, Fineen Wycherley try each. Edinburgh: Ewan Ashman, Ben Vellacott, Darcy Graham try each, Healy two cons. 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson, Mikey Milne, Diarmuid Barron (Capt), Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: John Ryan for Jager (injured, 23 mins); Dan Kelly for Haley (HIA, 30 mins); Brian Gleeson for Quinn (46 mins); Lee Barron for Diarmuid Barron (52 mins); Edwin Edogbo for Kleyn (54 mins); Ethan Coughlan for Patterson (59 mins); Josh Wycherley for Milne (61 mins), Tony Butler for Hanrahan (69 mins).

EDINBURGH RUGBY: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O’Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (Capt). Replacements: Glen Young for Sykes (HIA) (18-38 mins); Paul Hill for O’Conor (35-40 mins) and Rae (49 mins); Boan Venter for Schoeman (49 mins); Freddy Douglas for McConnell (49 mins); Ben Muncaster for Richardson (49 mins); Paddy Harrison for Ashman (66 mins); Young for Muncaster (69 mins); Henry Paterson for Graham (HIA, 71-74 mins); Darcy Graham for Patterson (75 mins), Charlie Shiel for Vellacott (76 mins).

Yellow cards: G Young (Edinburgh) 28 mins; D Rae (Edinburgh) 30 mins; F Douglas (Edinburgh) 53 mins; M Bradbury (Edinburgh) 69 mins.

REFEREE: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)