'Like gladiator stuff in Rome' - 30 years on from the day the Wallabies were mauled at Musgrave

Munster's reputation for putting manners on touring sides was well established by 1992. That didn't stop the world champions walking into an ambush

RED STORM: Terry Kingston and teammates celebrate during Munster's famous victory over Australia at Musgrave Park in 1992. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive

The pitch is an artificial playing surface these days, the main stand upgraded and a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant occupies one of the corners of the land that used to constitute Musgrave Park. Yet 30 years to the day since Munster defeated world champions Australia 21-19 there, the old Cork stadium still reverberates to the cacophony of spectators hammering the metal advertising hoardings in support of their underdog province.

Munster’s reputation of putting manners on touring sides had been set in motion in 1967 when Noel Murphy’s side defeated the Wallabies 11-8 at Musgrave Park and cemented when the All Blacks were beaten at Thomond Park 11 years later. The Australians lost again at Musgrave Park in 1981 yet the 1992 tourists had not paid heed to the history lessons as they return to Cork after another 11-year gap.