Brave show by Munster but All Blacks squeeze a victory

Munster 24, All Blacks 38

WHAT a match, what an occasion and the 26,364 attendance hung on every minute of a engrossing game of rugby at Thomond Park tonight. Trailing by two points at the break,12-14, Munster showed their grit, determination and pride in the jersey and firmly put the troubles of recent weeks behind them. 

The home side dominated the opening ten minutes but they just could not penetrate the visitors’ defence. Munster left wing Diarmuid Kilgallen was on fire, testing the Blacks defence every time he got possession and it was 19 minutes before the visitors got a decent footing in the Reds’ territory. On 21 minutes the All Blacks forced a scrum in front of the posts and AJ Lam forced his way over at the Ballynanty end with Harry Potter landeding the conversion. The Blacks added a second try on 29 minutes, running the ball from withing their own half and after a series of neat passes before Chay Fihaki went over and Harry Potter was again accurate with the kick. Tom Ahern went close with 32 minutes played but from the next phase, Munster  got the try that they fuly deserved when Mke Haley finished off an attack from a five metre lineout but Billy Burns failed with the conversion. Heading towards the break with the scores at 5-14, Munster laid siege, Rory Scannell popping a penalty into the corner andwith the pack getting the nudge at the maul, the referee awarded a penalty try. Half time, Munster 12, All Blacks 14.

The restart saw another Munster error, Tom Ahern knocking on the ball near his own 22.  You don’t give southern internationals gifts like that and the visitors went in for what looked a legitimate try only to be called back and disallowed by the TMO. It mattered little with Brodie McAllister touching down after a maul and converted by Harry Potter to make the score 12-21 on 46 minutes. Munster rallied again and this game was now well and truly alive when John Hodnett grounded after an excedllent maul from the home pack. The conversion was gain wide but at 17-21 Munster were in sight of a remarkable result.  Tony Butler replaced Billy Burns as the home support went up a few syllables and Paddy Patterson was called in to replace Ethan Coughlan for his first game in some time. The Blacks then hit another blow to their hosts when Chay Fihaki but the home side were not giving up, Stephen Archer scoring a try and Butler’s easy conversion left just two points between the sides 24-26 going into the final quarter. The penalty count kept rising at the expense of the New Zealanders but with only three minutes to go Kini Naholo finished off a flowing attack, Harrl Potter converted to put the result out of reach of the Reds, 24-33. An intercept try by Harry Potter put a better look on the scoreboard for the visitors despite Munster’s gallant efforts.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; John Ryan, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O’Connor.
All Blacks XV: Shaun Stevenson; Chay Fihaki, AJ Lam, Quinn Tupaea, Kini Naholo; Harry Plummer, Finlay Christie; George Bower, Brodie McAllister, George Dyer; Isaia Walker-Leawere, Fabian Holland; Oliver Haig, Du’Plessis Kirifi (capt), Devan Flanders.
Replacements: Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia, Marcel Renata, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, Josh Jacomb, Ruben Love

Ref. Damon Murphy,

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