Gritty Munster test Aussies

Munster 16 Australia 24

A one-sided first half saw the Wallabies turn over leading 24-6 but the home side held the visitors scoreless in the second while helping themselves to two well worked tries.

It didn’t help Munster’s cause that they went into the game without six key players, Keith Earls and Gerard Slattery (St Munchins), the PBC pair Tim Kennelly and Richard McCarthy and Rory O’Connor (Rockwell), all required by the Ireland A side for Saturday’s clash with the tourists at Donnybrook. Neilus Keogh of UCC was out through injury. Furthermore, they got off to a disastrous start when Australia ran in early tries by scrum-half Ben Lucan and full-back Christian Lealiifano, the first of which was converted by out-half Quade Cooper.