Munster beat Leinster in gripping Croke Park derby

Rugby World Cup

Leinster (7) 14

Kelleher and Penny Cons: Prendergast 2

Munster (21) 31

Fuelled by returning captain Tadhg Beirne’s superb performance, Munster made it four wins from four in the Rugby World Cup with a stirring and deserved win over rivals Leinster at Croke Park.

Beirne led Munster’s ferocious defensive display in his first game since being named the series’ British and Irish Lions player of the series, which was watched by 51, 859 spectators at Croke Park.

After Ronan Kelleher’s early try was wiped out by Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell, and Ethan Coughlan, Munster took the lead at half-time with a 21-7 lead.

After Ciaran Frawley was found to have illegally stopped Farrell at the tryline, earning the Leinster back a yellow card, the visitors were awarded the bonus-point score.

Leinster fell to the Stormers and Bulls in their third game of the season, falling to the Stormers and Bulls, and Scott Penny added a late try in the closing moments.

As the New Zealand game in Chicago approaches, Munster’s blue scrumcap-wearing flanker Beirne will have most pleased national team head coach Andy Farrell. Beirne will have impressed the most in a game that was billed as the intriguing first match-up between Ireland fly-half contenders Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast.

Crowley undoubtedly contributed to Munster’s victory. After Kelleher’s opening try for Leinster, Crowley’s deft crossfield kick to Thaakir Abrahams earned Gleeson to score the penalty for Munster.

Without Craig Casey, Crowley, who was not his usual half-back partner, then put Farrell under the posts with a delightful chip.

When Leinster were shaken by a strong Munster response, the visitors took advantage when scrum-half Ethan Coughlan ran nearly the entire field to score and give his team a 21-4 lead at the break.

The second half was a close fight despite the low scoring, as Beirne’s defiant Munster defense prevented the home side from scoring any points for the home side for sustained periods of Leinster possession.

When Frawley was penalized after Farrell was held up short, Munster erupted after absorbing a remarkable amount of Leinster pressure.

Before Leinster had the final say when Penny crossed the stage, Munster’s Gavin Coombes was sin-binned in the final few plays.

The iconic Gaelic games venue’s players roared back after they defeated Scarlets, Cardiff, and Edinburgh in a heartfelt victory over their closest rivals, but it did not dampen their celebrations.

D Sheehan, A Porter, T Clarkson, B Deeny, S Penny, F Gunne, C Frawley, J O’Brien, and D Sheehan.

Sin-bin: Frawley (77)

S. Daly, A. Smith, T. Farrell, T. Kelly, T. Abrahams, J. Crowley, J. Coughlan, M. Milne, D. Barron, J. Ryan, E. Edogbo, F. Wycherley, T. Beirne (capt), J. O’Donoghue, and B. Gleeson are present.

Replacements: L. Barron, J. Loughman, R. Foxe, J. Kleyn, G. Coombes, P. Patterson, J. J. Hanrahan, and A. Nankivell.

Sin-bin: Coombes (80)