Archive December 27, 2025

Thomond Park United Rugby Championship

Munster 8 (0)

Kelly Pens: Crowley

Leinster 13 (7)

In a festive United Rugby Championship match at Thomond Park, Leinster held on to defeat Munster 13-8.

In the sixth minute, Josh van der Flier added eight more points from Harry Byrne’s boot to secure the tightly contested victory. He scored the champions’ only try of the match.

Munster were back within five points after Dan Kelly’s try with 10 minutes remaining, but Leo Cullen’s men held on for the win.

Leinster have now won six games in a row in all competitions after losing three of their first four games in the 2025-26 campaign, including a 31-14 defeat by Munster in Croke Park in October.

Leinster’s dominance in the scrum was the main focus in the opening half, which only featured one try.

Munster couldn’t get past their opposing front row, who consistently used the set-piece to relieve pressure with the help of former Leinster player Michael Ala’alatoa, who appeared to struggle on their tight-head side.

Munster continued to enjoy a lot of territory but struggled with accuracy in the crunch despite those challenges.

A Mike Haley knock-on after a subpar Tom Farrell pass put an end to another attack, while Jack Crowley missed touch in what was generally a poor kicking display from those in red.

Leinster had a difficult time turning their own opportunities into opportunities, but Van der Flier’s early goal gave them a 7-0 lead into the break.

After one of those initial scrum penalties, Ronan Kelleher found Caelan Doris from the line-out and the visitors turned around.

When the back row peeled off the back and ran past Craig Casey’s tackle to score, there was no stopping Van der Flier.

Harry Byrne and Crowley traded penalties a quarter of an hour after the restart in what remained a disjointed and low-scoring game after the break.

Byrne scored three more points with the boot as the quarter came to a close, but it became apparent that the game was getting more and more disjointed as both teams turned their benches.

In the closing moments of the match, substitute centre Dan Kelly’s try in the 70th minute gave way to a stirring finish, but Munster were unable to break through the Leinster defense for the telling score.

Given the lack of attacking potential on display, it was a fitting conclusion to such a contest, despite the game’s lack of intensity or ferocity.

Replacements: Hodnett, Loughman, Ryan, Wycherley, Patterson, Kelly, and Barron.

Leinster: Frawley, O’Brien, Ioane, Lowe, Byrne, Gibson-Park, Porter, Kelleher, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, van der Flier, Doris (capt.).

McKee, P. McCarthy, Furlong, Mangan, Penny, Gunne, Tector, and O. O.

Arsenal considering a move for Manu Kone and Davide Bartesaghi, both of whom are interested in James McAtee, and Chelsea and Leeds United are also interested.

Premier League clubs have evaluated English midfielder James McAtee’s status at Nottingham Forest, including Chelsea and Leeds United. (Mail)

Italian international left-back Davide Bartesaghi, 19, is on the radar of Arsenal. (Caughtoffside)

Manu Kone, 24, a Roma and France international, is reportedly planning to join Manchester United in the summer. (Sportsmole)

Tottenham are willing to offer the same terms as Spurs captain Cristian Romero and Argentina’s center-back Micky van de Ven, 24. (Teamtalk)

After receiving a contract extension based on appearances, Brighton and England centre-back Lewis Dunk, 34, has committed his future to the club for at least one more year. (Athletic – A subscription required)

Gian Piero Gasperini, the head coach of Roma, has assured Joshua Zirkzee, 24, that his team’s 3-1-4-1 formation will allow him to play. (Gazzetta-in-Itali)

Santiago Castro, an Argentine forward, is wanted by Bologna for the age of 21. Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest are all interested in him. (Sport Witnesses’ Gazzetta)

However, one thing is undisputed: Aston Villa must now be viewed as a contender for the title in the Premier League.

Emery questioned whether Villa could face the most wacky of bats, saying, “Not really. We are strong in our battle. We are currently third in the league, trailing only Manchester City and Arsenal. Wow”.

Wow, indeed.

Emery demonstrated that he is also an expert at managing expectations and strategy.

Six minutes from time, Villa won 2-1 thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ header, before the deafening songs of belief rang around Stamford Bridge.

However, the evidence is compelling:

Emery may sway title talk, but his Villa and Midas touch, which match winner Watkins described his manager as a “tactical genius,” puts them at the center of the conversation.

On Tuesday, December 30th (20:15 GMT), Villa will face league leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, but Emery has a habit of making life difficult for his former club.

He leaves Villa just three points off the top of the table and just one point behind Manchester City, making it three points clear of the competition after missing out on this term’s competition on the final day of the previous campaign.

After losing any of their first five league games, Villa would have accepted with gratitude that they are now 10 points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea. This is another significant development.

Emery resurrected his pedigree by galvanising a stuttering Villa display just before the hour when Joao Pedro’s messy 37th-minute goal, the striker volleying home Reece James’ corner, was the only goalkeeper.

Emery sent Watkins, Amadou Onana, and Jadon Sancho for Donyell Malen, John McGinn, and Emiliano Buendia with Villa going nowhere and the game still in the balance.

Watkins scored the winner with a header after four minutes, and the impact was stunning.

Watkins spearheaded Villa’s Renaissance, coming off the bench with a fierce intent to captivate the visiting fans in their corner of Stamford Bridge.

Emery praised Watkins as “mature and a very important player,” setting the stage for the perfect example by letting go of any disappointment he might have experienced when he was substituted to punish Chelsea when he started playing.

The 29-year-old former Brentford striker has scored just three Premier League goals so far this season.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney, who works as a pundit on Match of the Day, said, “It’s been a difficult season for him.” However, he appeared to be very sharp right away and had a top-notch energy and movement.

Although “players don’t like coming off the bench,” he has a fantastic response.

Villa could yet defy his own belief that they will not win the title, according to Alan Shearer, who mentioned the Emery factor.

You have to say that Aston Villa are legitimate title contenders as we approach the halfway point, according to Shearer, a Match of the Day pundit.

Do you believe they’ll prevail? No, but that’s just because their squad’s depth is lacking. However, Unai Emery allows for anything.

His three subs at Stamford Bridge demonstrate his mastery of game management. Although they didn’t play in the first half, Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho, and Amadou Onana’s introduction provided a new perspective.

“His team simply isn’t aware of how bad they are.”

“Where would they be today if their start had not been so terrible? It’s quite amazing to imagine where they were five games into this club-record run. Emery will enjoy them now that they are 10 points clear of fifth. What they are accomplishing is fantastic for the Premier League.

What a game is going to be when they travel to the Emirates next.

Villa’s performances are begging for him, even though Emery is not even interested in whispering it.