Magnificent Munster outshine hotly tipped Leinster side
- Updated: 18/10/2025
Leinster 14, Munster 31
WE mentioned in our preview for this game ‘never write-off Munster Rugby’ and that was justified in Croke Park when the Reds deservedly made it four wins in a row in this tense URC game this afteernoon.
We did not have to wait long for the first score of the game, Leinster’s Rónan Kelleher grounding the ball after good approach work and Sam Prendergast kicked the conversion. the 53,000 attendance thought that this game was going to go only in one direction the were wrong ad within seven minutes the game was level when Brian Gleeson scored and Jack Crowley made no mistake with the conversion. From there to the half time whistle Munster had the better of the possession and when Leinster did put an attack into action, the red shirts were not lacking when courage and defensive ability was not lacking. Thaakir Abrahams was on fire and his side went in front when found a gap in the defence to run clearly to touch down with Crowley again accurate from the tee. Leinster looked shell-shocked and Munster added a third try when Ethan Coughlan ran clear to touch down under the posts, Crowley’s kick showing a scoreboard that read Leinster 7, Munster 21 at half time.
If the home side were keen to get a score as the second half began, it was Munster who added to their tally to 7-24. They were awarded an early penalty and Crowley’s kick was again accurate. Leinster camped in Munster territory from that point but they were continually frustated by some magnificent defensive work. Man of the match, Tadhg Beirne had possibly one of his most brilliant defensive performances and time after time the red shirts point Leinster any chance of breaching the white wash. More than 100 tackles were made by Munster than Leinster and in the battle of the number tens Jack Crowley clearly out-shone his opposite number on this occasion.
With only four minutes to go Munster broke downfield after hanging on in their own territory and after a typical break by Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell forced a penalty try to bring the score to 7-31 and a four try bonus point. With the last play of the game Leinster scored a consolation try, Scott Penny getting over, and the converion score put a slightly better shade on the final result..
Leinster Rugby: Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (c)
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley
Munster Rugby: Shane Daly, Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams, Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan, Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (c), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin
Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 44th league game)
AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
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