Reds repelled as Jordan Larmour try lights up Thomond

A stunning 60-metre try from Academy star Jordan Larmour sealed a bonus-point win for Leinster to hand Johann van Graan his first defeat as Munster head coach at Thomond Park last night.

As an introduction to interprovincial derbies go, this was a rude awakening for the South African. Van Graan saw his new charges fall from the heights they had reached in back-to-back European pre-Christmas wins over Leicester Tigers. Instead they put in an at times shambolic first-half performance to allow the visitors open out a commanding interval lead at 27-5, then witness a fightback early in the second period only to fall victim to one of the tries of the season from Larmour.

Munster had been forced into some last-minute changes when Keith Earls’ comeback from a hamstring injury was delayed by illness and Rhys Marshall presented with symptoms of the concussion he sustained on December 9 after the home Leicester Tigers Champions Cup victory having completed his return to play protocols. Marshall must now start the process again in order to pass fit for the January 1 trip to Ulster.