'Leinster probably walk away feeling like they got away with one' — Beirne and Munster vexed by loss

Munster had mostly themselves to blame as Leinster settled the score at Thomond although coach Clayton McMillan did take issue with the breakdown: 'It doesn't seem like it's being reffed.'

LICKING THEIR WOUNDS: Munster players trudge off after their narrow defeat to Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Missed opportunities and a breakdown free for all at Thomond Park led to frustration in the Munster dressing room as Clayton McMillan and captain Tadhg Beirne reflected on a 13-8 URC derby home loss to Leinster on Saturday night.

Leinster exacted revenge for their comprehensive 31-14 derby defeat to Munster at Croke Park 10 weeks earlier as they held on for victory at a sold-out Thomond Park but Munster only had themselves to blame for missing out on a first league double over their rivals since 2014-15.

The provinces shared a try apiece in a hard-fought attritional battle in Limerick, Leinster’s Josh van der Flier scoring after just six minutes and Munster replacement Dan Kelly replying 10 minutes from time but the difference on the scoreboard came from the kicking tee as Harry Byrne kicked a conversion and two penalties while Munster’s Jack Crowley kicked one penalty and missed his conversion opportunity.

There were also missed try-scoring opportunities for head coach McMillan’s side that contributed to Leinster’s winning streak in Limerick since 2018 continuing for another year. Munster will now have to regroup for a trip to Belfast to take on Ulster in seven days if they are to maintain their place in the top four of the URC standings, with Leinster now just four points behind them.

“It's just one of those games that we'll be frustrated that we didn't win,” Beirne said. “I think Leinster will probably walk away from here feeling like they got away with one too.” 

The Munster captain continued: “I suppose for us it's frustrating that we just couldn't convert our chances. We had a good few opportunities and we had them camped down in their half for a lot of the game. But we just couldn't convert.

“Whether it was a handling error or we just lost a moment around the ruck and the ball spilled out. Just moments like that. Those kind of moments are huge in games like this where it's a one-score game.

“It's just about being better holding on to the ball and breaking the teams down by doing that.” 

Having conceded back-to-back penalties from the kick-off to allow van der Flier to open the scoring on six minutes, Munster had wasted their chances to reply with Crowley kicking a touchfinder penalty into the 22 long and then a maul being turned over close to the tryline in the opening quarter. And having closed the gap to 13-8 with Kelly’s unconverted try, Munster’s efforts to claim victory foundered after a period of prolonged pressure inside the Leinster 22 when a massive hit from All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane dislodged the ball from Crowley’s hands with the clock past 80.

“Oh yeah, we created a couple of moments there at the end,” McMillan said. “On another day we get a pass away and we score and it comes down to a conversion, but it didn't happen, so you take it on the chin and move on.” 

The Munster boss was less accepting of the current handling by referees of the breakdown and added: “There were a couple of occasions where we needed to be better in our ball presentation. But there were times, I think where men were swimming around the corners of rucks, something that was brought to the officials’ attention pre-game.

“We knew it was going to be a contest at the breakdown. A big song and dance was made about that being ruled out of the game at the beginning of the season. It doesn't seem like it's being reffed.

“But when you don't deal with what you're dealing with on the day and we need to be better looking after that.”