Northampton Saints – Munster Rugby: Player Ratings
01/18/2025 01:36 PM
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens set the venue for a winner takes all clash in the final weekend of pool 3 of the Investec European Rugby Champions Cup. Both sides went into the game knowing the victorious would grasp a home tie for the round of 16 knockout game. Munster came in confident off the back of a 17-12 defeat of Saracens in Thomond Park last weekend, while Northampton left Paris defeated after a high scoring battle with Stade Francis.
The Saints welcomed six changes to their defeated side, with out-half Fin Smith recovering from illness to lead the attack, alongside notable returnees captain Fraser Dingwall, Juarno Augustus, and Curtis Langdon.
Munster saw talisman Peter O’Mahony return, while Diarmuid Kilgallen made his first competitive start for the club after arriving from Connacht in the summer. Ian Costello’s troops fashioned three changes from last weekends victory as Diarmuid Barron started at hooker to complete a buoyant Munster side.
The Irish side started the sharper of the two, looking to get the ball to the edge in attack and bringing physicality in defence. However, it was the Saints who crossed first off an attacking scrum. Tommy Freeman roaming infield to pick a big hole, before Tom Seabrook crossed in the corner.
Munster looked to influential captain Tadhg Beirne, picking off a Saints lineout and bursting upfield. Conor Murray kicked into backfield space and the electric pace of Calvin Nash saw him dash by Saints cover to control the ball with his knee and get over for Munsters first score. Crowley nailed the extras.
Fullback Mike Haley earned Munster a dodgy 50/22 as Beirne continued to swallow defenders and Crowley kicked three more for Munster. The Irish side are a confidence team, and knowing a home knockout tie was on the line they grew further into the game. Diarmuid Barron broke inside the Saints 22, and a sweeping move saw Calvin Nash cross for his second try, working his way to the far wing.
As The Fields of Athenry started to ring out, Northampton started to play. Augustus carried hard, and Freeman was finding space as the last 10 minutes of the first half saw constant Saints pressure. Ultimately Munster’s penalty count was too high and Gavin Coombes was sent to the bin with the clock in the red. The home side went to their lineout maul, with their backline joining as returnee Curtis Langdon crossed the whitewash.
HALF TIME: NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 12 – 15 MUNSTER RUGBY
Northampton Saints flew out of the blocks in the second half with constant pressure and their backline growing into the game. Munster met this pressure with a rushing defence but Saints were too strong. Seabrook added another try to his tally with a slick finish in the corner after a lovely long sweeping pass from fullback James Ramm.
It was Ramm’s turn to cross the line after a strong maul from Saints saw Smith play his shoreside. Conor Murray rushed him, yet the young outhalf faintly tipped the ball on to Ramm rushing through. Saints were starting to look in control, Crowley nailed a penalty but the Munster ill-discipline continued costing them a cheap penalty Smith converted.
But Munster wouldn’t die. Conor Murray sniped from a ruck with a lovely inside ball out the back door to Kilgallen tracking off his wing. The winger marked his first start with a try and the game was bursting into life with a knockout feeling. It’s tit-for-tat nature continued and Scotsman Hutchinson found Seabrook with a lovely inside ball, galloping through from halfway to make it a hat-trick. Smith nailed the extras and Saints were ahead 34-25 with 10 to play.
Saints were asserting more pressure but Crowley worked with Patterson down the short side. The sub scrum-half Patterson was stopped just short of the try line but Munster received a penalty and kicked to the corner. Phase play was stopping short and Munster went blind with a sweeping pass under pressure from Crowley releasing Kilgallen, for his second in the corner. Crowley nailed the touchline extras leaving Saints two up with a minute to play.
Crowley sparked a final attack with a break from deep into Saints territory but it was too little too late. Phases were slow and Saints ripped the ball through young superstar Henry Pollock. All over in the East Midlands as Northampton Saints set up a home knockout tie, while Munster will travel away.
Full time Northampton Saints 34 – 32 Munster Rugby.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Tries: 5 (Seabrook 13, 48, 57, Langdon 41, Ramm 54)
Conversions: 3 (Smith 42, 55, 58)
Penalties: Smith (59)
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
15. James Ramm 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Fraser Dingwall (C) 12. Rory Hutchinson 11. Tom Seabrook 10. Fin Smith 9. Alex Mitchell 1. Tarek Haffar 2. Curtis Langdon 3. Trevor Davison 4. Alex Coles 5. Tom Lockett 6. Josh Kemeny 7. Tom Pearson 8. Juarno Augustus
16. Henry Walker (79′) 17. Tom (West 60′) 18. Luke Green (63′) 19. Callum Hunter-Hill (49′) 20. Angus Scott-Young (71′) 21. Henry Pollock (60′) 22. Tom James (71′) 23. Tom Litchfield
MUNSTER RUGBY
Tries: 4 (Nash 22, 32, Kilgallen 63, 78)
Conversions: 3 (Crowley 23, 64, 79)
Penalties: 2 (Crowley 27, 57)
Drop goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 1 (Coombes 40)
Red Cards: 0
15. Mike Haley 14. Calvin Nash 13. Tom Farrell 12. Rory Scannell 11. Diarmuid Kilgallen 10. Jack Crowley 9. Conor Murray 1. Dian Bleuler 2. Diarmuid Barron 3. Oli Jager 4. Fineen Wycherley 5. Tadhg Beirne (C) 6. Peter O’Mahony 7. Alex Kendellen 8. Gavin Coombes
16. Niall Scannell (49′) 17. John Ryan (71′) 18. Stephen Archer (49′) 19. Tom Ahern (49′) 20. Jack O’Donoghue (49′) 21. Paddy Patterson (71′) 22. Tony Butler (62′) 23. Brian Gleeson
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS PLAYER RATINGS
15. James Ramm – 8
The fullback had a brilliant outing. A lovely floating pass for Seabrook saw his back three partner cross in the corner before Ramm crossed for his own try a few minutes later. He marshalled the backfield well and often popped up in attack with slick hands.
14. Tommy Freeman – 7
The only of Saints back three to not cross the whitewash however Freeman still had an excellent game. he often popped up infield, picking a brilliant hole to give them a platform for their first try. The winger was positive and provided much in attack from the edge, gathering some kicks beautifully.
13. Fraser Dingwall (C) – 7
The returning captain had a quieter affair, but was competent in both attack and defence with some aggressive tackling and slick hands. Overall a solid outing.
12. Rory Hutchinson –8
The Scotsman was excellent today. Strong and powerful in defence, while intelligent in attack. His soft hands found Seabrook on the inside for the wing to race clear and give Northampton the momentum in the closing stages.
11. Tom Seabrook – 10
A 10 isn’t often deserved or given, but the winger scored a hat trick, with a variety of scoring. His first was a relatively easy finish in the corner but his second saw his finishing skills at the fore. He will have enjoyed his third, sauntering through from halfway, to complete a scintillating performance. The deserved man of the match.
10. Fin Smith– 8.5
Saints attack was somewhat misfiring in the first half but Smith was ever-present with some brilliant kicking from hand alongside an energetic attacking display. The outhalf made brilliant decisions throughout the game and marched his troops around the park in the second half, while also being solid from the tee.
9. Alex Mitchell – 7
Mitchell was his usual jack-in-the-box self but Munster were aware. He started to realise this, instead choosing his moments to spark attack, alongside a solid kicking game.
- Tarek Haffar – 8
Northampton’s scrum was solid but Haffar came to play with ball in hand. 14 carries and seemingly from first receiver at times saw the loosehead destruct Munster and give Saints quick ball.
2. Curtis Langdon – 8.5
Langdon crossed for a try on his return after a brilliant maul. Their scrum and lineout was solid, and Langdon finished his display with 18 tackles and carries. A great day out for the hooker.
3. Trevor Davison – 6
The quietest of the front row today. Davison had a solid showing in both set piece and phase play before being substituted with 20 to play.
4. Alex Coles – 6
Coles had a solid day out but struggled to affect Munster’s staunch defence. Completed all basics well before leaving the field 10 minutes into the second half.
5. Tom Lockett – 6.5
Lockett got through a serious amount of unhighlighted work and had a solid showing. 10 tackles and 12 carries in what was a decent showing from Northamptons second row partnership.
6. Josh Kemeny – 6.5
Kemeny gave a professional showing in a physical game. Munster met Northampton ball with pressure, and the blindside was always there to secure attacking ball.
7. Tom Pearson – 7
17 tackles for the open side today alongside 10 carries. Pearson is a brilliant workhorse from openside and gave a commanding performance.
8. Juarno Augustus – 8
Northampton are going to miss him next year. A destructive wrecking ball with ball in hand. Even in Augustus wasn’t making yards, he was swallowing up multiple Munster players in defence. A key figure for Saints in their knockout tie.
16. Henry Walker – N/A
Played the last minute.
17. Tom West – 6
Solid showing for the final 20 minutes as the game opened up.
18. Luke Green – 6
Similar to his loosehead partner.
19. Callum Hunter Hill – 7
Standing 2 metres tall, the replacement second row offered Munster’s defence a scary prospect for the final half hour. Provided saints with excellent go forward ball.
20. Angus Scott Young – N/A
Played out the final stages.
21. Henry Pollock – 7.5
The press were all wondering who it was that ripped the final ball, before coming to agreement it was the young hotshot. Energy and power in a 20 minute cameo.
22. Tom James – N/A
Played out the final stages.
23. Tom Litchfield – Unused.
MUNSTER RUGBY PLAYER RATINGS
15. Mike Haley – 7
Haley was his usual self, competing in the air and commanding the backfield. Saints soon came to realise he’s elusive to tackle and the fullback earned a brilliant, but arguably dodgy 50/22 in the first half.
14. Calvin Nash – 8.5
The winger was electric, particularly in the first half with two brilliant tries. The first showed Nash’s terrifying pace and beautiful control with his knee, offering Munster’s first score. The second was a sweeping move seeing him work infield before again demonstrating his pace to get outside Saints cover.
13. Tom Farrell – 6.5
Farrell was an ever-willing runner but often found himself isolated in attack. There was some really good carrying, but arguably at times he could’ve looked to his support outside. Powerful in defence.
12. Rory Scannell – 6
Scannell gave a solid account of himself but struggled to showcase his skillset, in a understated work-heavy performance.
11. Diarmuid Kilgallen – 8
What a brilliant first competitive start. Two tries, both well taken, the second showing his workmate to gather a slick inside pass from Conor Murray off his wing. Kilgallen was brilliant in the air, often covering the backfield, bar one mistake on the floor.
10. Jack Crowley – 8
Crowley showed Simon Easterby what he can do, going into the six nations. The out half was excellent from the tee while bright in attack, working from both 10 and full back. His assist for Kilgallen was a gorgeous pass, and the Munster man kicked well to touch offering a strong platform for the Irish sides attack.
9. Conor Murray – 7
Murray looked hungry in both attack and defence offering Munster not only a leader but an excellent scrum half. His assist for Kilgallen was a thing of beauty and gave Munster some much needed points. However, he rushed Fin Smith deep in his own 22 failing to swallow him, and the young outhalf tipped the ball on to send Ramm through, with Murray at fault.
- Dian Bleuler – 6.5
Bleuler completed 18 tackles in a solid showing. Munster won some scrum penalties and the South African provided aggression and power throughout.
2. Diarmuid Barron – 6.5
Barron returned to the fray and Munster’s set piece was mostly good. The hooker had a brilliant carry which eventually lead to a try, powering through the Saints 22 swallowing multiple defenders up.
3. Oli Jager – 6
The quieter of the Munster front row will still be happy with his own days work. Munster’s defence was relentlessly powerful and the tightwad got through a serious workload.
4. Fineen Wycherley – 7.5
Wycherley seemed to pop up everywhere, and was surprisingly substituted after 50minutes, but with Tom Ahern coming on, understandably. The youngster followed his partner Tadhg Beirne into every ruck, maul, and tackle.
5. Tadhg Beirne (C) – 8.5
Beirne showed why he’s captain, leading Munster into each and every battle. Superb in attack, treating defenders as speed bumps, while excellent in defence too with 15 tackles.
6. Peter O’Mahony – 6
The Munster talisman re-entered the squad offering Munster further hope they’d secure a win. He was quieter than his usual self, but still effective on both sides of the ball. Munster’s leader will come away rueing his sides ill-discipline at costly times.
7. Alex Kendellen – 7
Kendellen was excellent in defence with the most tackles of the game, 22. The young open side offered a manic aggression without the ball, and was often the first to rucks when needed most.
8. Gavin Coombes – 6
Coombes gave a quiet showing and let his side down with a sin bin at a crucial moment. To be fair, he was the one to be singled from many offenders, but it counts that he still was. Aggressive on both sides of the ball, but after his sin bin he struggled to catch up to the pace of play.
16. Niall Scannell – 6
Scannell got a half hour from the bench, in a game he felt he could’ve started. Completed all essentials with competence.
17. John Ryan – N/A
Played out the final frantic minutes.
18. Stephen Archer – 6
Archer gave a usual solid showing from the bench.
19. Tom Ahern – 6
Munster fans were delighted to see Ahern sprung from the bench as Munster needed points, but the young second row struggled to impose himself as much as he usually does.
20. Jack O’Donoghue – 6.5
O’Donoghue is cut from the same cloth as the likes of O’Mahony offering raw aggression, but today struggled to show this as the game opened up a lot upon his introduction.
21. Paddy Patterson – 7
Patterson was very unlucky to not cross the try line after some superb work with Jack Crowley down the short side. Patterson rose to the occasion well, and gave a solid account of himself in a 10 minute cameo.
22. Tony Butler – 7
Bringing Butler on with 20 to play was a bold move from Munster for the inexperienced outhalf, however he rose well. Worked in tandem with Crowley to see Munster score two tries in the final 20.
23. Brian Gleeson – 7
Gleeson is a powerful player. His frame alongside his work rate offered go forward ball, and a dominant defender. Good in the open too from the edge.
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