Munster Rugby storm back to secure exciting win over Ulster ahead ...
MUNSTER Rugby produced a storming second half comeback to defeat Ulster 29-24 in the United Rugby Championship in front of a sun-kissed official attendance of 17,496 at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.
Munster's ninth win on the bounce in the league secured top spot for the champions at the end of the regular season.
Graham Rowntree's charges will now host the Ospreys in a quarter-final clash at Thomond Park next weekend with exact fixture details to be confirmed within the next 24 hours.
It is the first time since 2019 that Munster have secured a home playoff fixture in the league.
Munster would also have home advantage for a semi-final and final should the holders progress the whole way.
Finishing top of the table for Munster is a notable achievement as the province won only won four of their first nine BKT URC fixtures, but have come flying up on the rails in the final straight, reeling off nine successive victories.
Munster trailed their visitors 7-17 at half-time, despite grabbing the opening try of the contest through RG Snyman, with Rob Herring and David McCann dotting down for Ulster.
The home side also trailed 14-24 early in the second half. Man of the match Calvin Nash grabbed Munster’s second try with Ulster replaying soon after through Matty Rea.
The home side edged the outcome through tries from Shane Daly and Eoghan Clarke.
The Ulstermen lost Stuart McCloskey and Ethan McIlroy to injuries before kick-off, which brought Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore into the team. The early departure of Kieran Treadwell (ankle) was another blow.
RG Snyman was very fortunate to avoid a card for a high tackle on Will Addison and the Springbok star then touched down a few minutes later, giving Crowley a straightforward conversion.
However, Ulster hit back with a well-worked maul try from Herring and Cooney soon gave his side a 10-7 lead courtesy of a 22nd-minute penalty.
Munster's execution was letting them down and a late Crowley blunder handed Ulster a five-metre scrum. They earned a further penalty and flanker McCann was able to burrow over for Cooney to convert.
A rare Cooney penalty miss preceded the unloading of the hosts' forward-heavy bench which was a game changer. Nash scored from a Craig Casey pass and Crowley's touchline conversion cut the gap to just three points.
Cormac Izuchukwu broke menacingly to put Ulster right back in scoring range and Cooney's short pass helped Rea power over. Cooney also curled over the extras for a 24-14 scoreline.
Crucially, Munster clawed back those seven points by the hour mark. Replacement Joey Carbery's half-break produced quick ball, which Casey scooped up one-handed to send Daly over from the left wing which Crowley converted.
Clarke redeemed himself for a previous crooked throw when he muscled his way over in the left corner and the Reds held onto the momentum as Crowley's closing penalty put them just out of reach.
MUNSTER RUGBY: Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Peter O'Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Jack O'Donoghue. Replacements: Joey Carbery for Rory Scannell (injured, 35 mins), Oli Jager for Archer (50 mins), Tom Ahern for Snyman (50 mins), John Hodnett for Kendellen (50 mins), Eoghan Clarke for N Scannell (60 mins), John Ryan for Loughman (60 mins), Gavin Coombes for P O’Mahony (61 mins), Conor Murray for Casey (69 mins).
ULSTER: Stewart Moore, Mike Lowry, Will Addison, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (Capt), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney. Replacements: Harry Sheridan for Treadwell (injured, 5 mins), Matty Rea for O’Connor (injured, 18 mins), Tom Stewart for Herring (53 mins), Andy Warwick for O’Sullivan (53 mins), Aaron Sexton for Addison (59 mins), Dave Ewers for Rea (64 mins), Scott Wilson for O’Toole (66 mins).
REFEREE: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
