Three in a row for Munster as they prepare for Leinster
- Updated: 10/10/2025
Munster 20, Edinburgh 19
THE scoreline tells its own story in this thrilling URC round three clash tonight in Cork. Edinburgh dominated the majority of the opening half but they led by just two points, 10-12 and from there to the finish there was little between the two sides. This Munster victory marks a run of three wins in this competiton and sets up a mouth-watering battle against Leinster next week-end in Dublin. Munster made ten changes from the side that beat Cardiff last week-end and on this occasion they certainly put on a courageous performance as they stood up to the visitors in the final minutes. A feature of the game was the number of yellow cards shown by the referee to the Edinburgh side and it certainly cost them dearly.
Munster got the perfect start and they were five points up two minutes, Calvin Nash placing a through ball and Andrew Smith touching down near the corner flag. JJ Hanrahan failed with the converesion. Edinburgh relied on seven minutes when their pack forced a lineout near the Munsfer line, the pack did the rest and Ewan Ashman grounded the ball to the satisfaction of the referee. Ben Healy’s conversion came back off the upright and the sides were at 5-5.
Mike Haley knocked on 12 minutes which allowed Edinburgh to score their second try, Pierre Schoeman credited with the score and this time Healy landed the kick to put his side 5-12 to the good. Edinburgh were well on top at that stage but a double penalisation left them with their backs to the wall with 13 men. On 30 minutes a try from Mikey Milne gave the home side more hope but once again JJ Hanrahan failed to convert leaving the score 10-12.
As the second half got underway it was Edinburgh who once again had most of the possession and they extended their lead to 10-19 thanks to a spectacular try by Darcy Graham, Ben Healy adding the extras. Indiscipline contined to prove costly for the Scottish side and they lost another to the sin-bin on 54 minutes. It was to spark Munster into action and front-row Mikey Milne, got in for his second try of the night but JJ Hanrahan again missed with his kick. The final miutes were nail-biting and Fineen Wycherley became the hero of the night when he snatched the winning score with Tony Butler missing the kick.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson, Mikey Milne, Diarmuid Barron (c), Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly
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 (c)
Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Harry Paterson
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 110th league game) AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Jack MacNeice (IRFU) TMO: Keith David (WRU)
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