More injury worries, but patchwork Munster find spark in six-try rout
24 January 2025; Ethan Coughlan of Munster in action against George Young of Dragons during the United Rugby Championship match between Dragons and Munster at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales. Photo by Gareth Everett/Sportsfile
Six-try Munster survived a plethora of second half injuries to secure a bonus point victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade. Starting the day 12th in the URC table, the result sees the province move back into the playoff spots ahead of the Six Nations break.
To describe the first half as a basketball contest would suggest it was end to end. One side scores, the other follows suit immediately.
The opening period in Rodney Parade was a different sort of 'end-to-end'. Munster scored. The Dragons kicked-off back into the visiting 22. Munster immediately ran it back and scored again.
Diarmuid Kilgallen and Shane Daly were both immense in virtually everything Munster did ball in hand, both wings popping up in general play to add an extra attacker to the line and overrun the hapless defence. Daly’s decision to do just that allowed Tom Ahern to send Kilgallen in for the game’s opening score inside three minutes.
Munster did, initially at least, have to wait to inflict further damage. Coombes went close after Burns brilliantly sent him through a gap, only to ground the ball short of the line. The number eight was prominently involved when Munster did finally add to their tally, his break into the 22 setting up Alex Kendellen for a simple finish.
Off the resulting kick-off, Munster took just seconds to run the length of the field. Daly broke from his own 22, and, keeping the basketball theme, threw a one-handed pass over a defender to send Kendellen into space. He held his feet well, waiting for support and drawing in the last defender, sending over Ben O’Connor for a score his first senior start for the province.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Munster scored again off the next restart. This time they kicked their way out of the 22 but still won it back in the air. Daly broke, linking with Tom Farrell. His one-handed, no look pass to hit Daly on a switch line drew gasps from even the home crowd.
Daly was denied a try by Lloyd Evans’ high tackle but the decision to come was a simple one. A penalty try gave Munster their bonus point inside the first quarter and Evans a 10-minute breather.
Farrell did limp off midway through the half, forcing a backline reshuffle as Tony Butler came on at fullback. O’Connor moved to the wing with Daly shifting to 13. Munster didn’t look quite as fluid thereafter, though Niall Scannell’s long ball did allow Kendellen to make another line break into the 22. On his final appearance for the club, Dian Bleuler finished things off with a strong carry close to the line. Just the 31 point lead at the break.
When the Dragons struck first after the break, the stadium announcer was so used to calling out Munster scores that he named the wrong tighthead for the try. No, Oli Jager didn’t score, but his opposite number Chris Coleman did dive over after the Dragons cut through Munster’s makeshift backline.
It wouldn’t be the last time. Dragons continued their purple patch, another backline strike making plenty of ground. Greater accuracy - in a similar manner to when Munster broke the line in the first half - could have led to another score.
It didn’t, and their period in the ascendancy was ended by Bleuler winning a scrum penalty. Another infringement allowed Butler to kick into the corner, replacement John Hodnett getting on the end of a maul try.
The importance of a 38-5 lead should not be lost given that, entering the third quarter, Munster’s backline was decimated by injuries. The lead ensured the 6-2 bench split did not haunt Ian Costello and co, as scrumhalf Paddy Patterson had to play wing after Shane Daly’s HIA. When Burns limped off there were no more back replacements. On came backrow Brian Gleeson.
At least Butler was on the park and could shift to outhalf, but the rest of the line now featured Kilgallen at 13, O’Connor back to where he started at 15 with Patterson and Jack O’Donoghue on the wings.
It got worse. In an unfortunate collision, Ethan Coughlan was forced out of the game after Paula Latu’s knee collided with his head on the floor. Danny Sheehan - nephew of Frankie - came on for a Munster debut, Munster were forced to play with two hookers. Patterson was on hand to play scrumhalf, though that shifted Hodnett onto the wing.
Unsurprisingly, the patchwork nature of this Munster outfit led to a scrappy final quarter. Dragons replacement Harry Wilson scored from close range after Munster left an earlier gap in midfield. Dane Blacker followed suit after another midfield mix-up allowed Wilson to break.
Patterson was denied a score by a knock-on while a late attack went close only to be shunted into touch. Frustration might be the overriding emotion given just one score was added after half-time, but that electric first half, combined with the patchwork job required in the second, leaves Munster flying home with a justified sense of satisfaction.
Try: C Coleman, H Wilson, D Blacker Con: L Evans (1), W Reed (1)
Try: Kilgallen, Kendellen, O’Connor, Penalty Try, Bleuler, Hodnett, Con: Burns (3), Butler (2)
H Anderson; R Dyer, A Owen (c), H Ackerman (H Wilson, 37 HIA), J Rosser; L Evans (W Reed, 69), M Lloyd (D Blacker, HT); R Martinez (D Kelleher-Griffiths, 10), B Coghlan (J Benjamin, 51), C Coleman (P Latu, 62); J Davies, R Woodman (B Langton-Cryer, 46); S Lewis-Hughes, D Lydiate, T Basham (G Young, 5).
Yellow card: L Evans (20)
B O’Connor; S Daly (P Patterson, 51 HIA), T Farrell (T Butler, 25), R Scannell, D Kilgallen; B Burns (B Gleeson, 57), E Coughlan (D Sheehan, 65); D Bleuler (K Ryan, 69) D Barron, O Jager (J Ryan, 43); F Wycherley (E O’Connell, 61), T Ahern; J O’Donoghue (c), A Kendellen (J Hodnett, 51), G Coombes.
Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
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