LEINSTER… 21
MUNSTER… 16
It wouldn’t be a meeting of the two old foes if it wasn’t an epic. Score for score, massive hits given and taken on both sides. The pendulum swinging one way and then the other. As is often the case in these situations, it came down to who managed error limitation better.
On that score, the blue corner held sway here hands down. Indeed, it was the URC title holders’ error strewn efforts that were their own undoing. Gavin Coombes in particular an hour and twenty minutes to forget.
The flanker knocking on twice and also infringing in a scrum to cough up possession three times. Which, on at least one occasion, led to a score at the other end.
Now, obviously, each camp will see the scenario radically differently. Though Munster are probably streetwise enough and possessed of enough humility to know themselves that you can’t make that many mistakes against any opposition – let alone the best there is – and hope to prosper.
For their part, Leinster probably see it as their demonstration that the truly great teams always do find a way when it’s required most.
Though talk of ‘grudge matches’ and revenge will obviously be talked down by both sides, as sure as the Pope is a Catholic, you can be damn sure Leinster’s gears have been grinding ever since Jack Crowley’s dead ball expertise gave the Red corner a rare win over their great rivals.
It had all started so well for Graham Rowntree’s team, when Craig Casey got on the end of a brilliant move instigated by the returning Simon Zebo to cross the whitewash and give the visitors a lead of five with the same amount of minutes elapsed.
Crowley duly split the posts to tag on the extras. However, despite commendable grafting by Stephen Archer and Tadhg Beirne at the scrum and breakdown, the aforementioned errors gave Leinster a foothold their visitors could hardly afford to donate.
Munster’s half backs had enabled them to open up a double handful lead for themselves but once Leo Cullen’s men saw even an inch of an opening, they charged through it like a bull heading for a milking parlour.
Firstly, Jamieson Gibson-Park gleefully accepted an attempted skip pass from Beirne before going on to replicate his opposite number and go over.
Leinster then lost fly half Ross Byrne shortly after he had converted their first five pointer, but, in yet another franking of the resources available to the 12 county province, Ciaran Frawley slotted in seamlessly, nailing all the place kicks which came his way as further tries from Jordan Larmour and Dan Sheehan gave the boys in blue the win their better use of possession deserved.
While the vanquished will naturally be frustrated and disappointed to have lost to the noisy neighbours once again, there were still plenty of positives for Rowntree et al to latch onto.
In terms of the basics, the bonus point nabbed for getting to within five of their opponents could prove crucial in the long run. The half back pairing are taking on more of a Stringer/O’Gara vibe by the week. And, while it could not be said to be on the same plateau as their adversaries in this regard, the reds are incrimentally building more strength in depth which will stand them in good stead going forward.
There’s never much more than a score between them. In four weeks time they’ll do it all again. What a Christmas gift!
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