Munster take defeat on the chin

12/31/2024 04:00 AM

IT WAS billed as the game of the season, but the annual derby clash in Thomond Park fizzled out as Munster’s unbeaten provincial rivals notched their seventh bonus point victory from nine wins.

As Calen Dorris touched down at the Ballynanty end for Leinster’s bonus point win, the sight of some of the home support dribbling away before the final whistle told its own story.

You can’t field with any weaknesses in your side against such a force as this Leinster squad and the home side were exposed when it mattered most.

Not for the first time in recent seasons at this time of the year, Munster are again suffering badly from the unavailability of experienced players and for this one Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, and Craig Casey could have made a big difference.

The Munster reaction following the defeat was handled courageously by coach Ian Costelloe.

Leinster have now won on their last six visits to Limerick and the temporary head coach had no excuses.

"We will take this defeat on the chin and learn some harsh lessons. We put a lot into our preparation for this game and to be at the wrong side of a 7-28 defeat is very tough. We came up a little bit short against a really good side. Leinster created five opportunities from five-metre drives and took four of them, we created four and scored just one," said Costelloe.

Set pieces have been a problem for Munster this season, whether it be in the lineout or the scrum, and once again there were costly errors.

The flowing backline attacks down the flanks, which were so effective in the Ulster fixture, were limited and Leinster had successfully installed adequate cover any time the ball threatened to reach Nash or Daly.

Tom Farrell kept up his impressive try scoring run but the home side’s half-back pairing never looked like troubling the Leinster defence.

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