Leinster ease past Munster in Thomond Park as unbeaten streak continues

Munster 7Leinster 28Leinster had too much in their locker, their almost full-strength side posting a bonus-point win over Munster in front of a 26,267 full-house at Thomond Park.A win that added to what's fast becoming a sorry statistic for Munster, Leinster have won eight of the last nine Red-Blue encounters.It was also, by the way, Munster's first URC league-proper defeat at home in the 2024 calendar year.

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Leinster were in fluid form from the get-go and, indeed, Jacques Nienaber may feel their first-half defence was possibly the best 40 minutes put in by his three-quarters/full-back since his post-2023 Rugby World Cup arrival.Certainly while Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose may have had to adjust their games slightly and taken some time to find this new rhythm, the zealous application of the South African's strategy by Andrew Osborne, Tommy and Jimmy O'Brien here in Limerick was unforgiving.The away side also had the benefit of the more robust scrum and, indeed, it was interesting to see Cian Healy, picked as a replacement tight-head, brought into the fray as early as the 52nd minute.There were no obvious signs of injury or distress to Rabah Slimani and Healy coped admirably with the ensuing half-hour - a development worth watching in the New Year.Sam Prendergast put in another fine display before being called ashore not long after the hour and picked up another TV Man of the Match award.As a specific, his slicing through for the second try was exceptional. Ireland don't produce many try-scoring no10s and this would be a useful weapon for the international armoury.Munster will be disappointed with their scrum, the difficulties persist.

Elsewhere the lineout didn't fire on all cylinders while their back-row failed to ignite on what was an important engagement for such as Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen and, indeed, John Hodnett when he came on.Mike Haley impressed while Tom Ahern's try-scoring contribution was a sign he is their most improved first half of the season forward.Leinster went ahead just before the 10th minute mark, kicking a penalty to the corner, winning the lineout and setting up two three rucks close to the line.Munster were without a pillar at the third of those rucks and Luke McGrath simply picked up the ball from the base and crossed.The home side had their best period thereafter and continual attacking, met with Leinster conceding numerous penalties, culminating in Tommy O'Brien receiving a 21st minute yellow card.Tahdg Beirne actually managed to cross the Blues line from the resulting penalty but the surge was far too predictable and handily held up over the line by the defence.Leinster had a similar siege close to the Munster line just after the half-hour but, deciding to spin the ball, were rewarded when, one pass out, Prenmdergast knifed though to score untouched. The out-half then converted his own try put his side 14-0 up.Munster managed a storming start to the second-half, running two close-in penalties at the line before, on advantage, a pass to the solitary Tom Ahern on the left saw him find a half-gap and reach his very long rms out to get the ball to the line.Burns' conversion reduced the deficit to seven and the Thomond Park faithful came to life again.Only to be dashed a few minutes later when the curious case of the lack of pillars at ruck time resurfaced, this time Leinster attacking close to the posts and Josh van der Flier simply picking up at the base and racing through.Byrne's introduction for the last 17 minutes left him with the responsibility of gaining the bonus point.And with Leinster on the front foot it came six minutes from full-time when the Blues, having run a short penalty were just short of the Munster line. From there Caelan Doris crashed over.Munster: Mike Haley (Ben O'Connor 75); Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns (Tony Butler 65), Ethan Coughlan (Paddy Patterson 51); Dian Bleuler (Kieran Ryan 73), Niall Scannell (Eoghan Clark 23-36, 73), Oli Jager (John Ryan 54), Fineen Wycherley (John Hodnett 42), Tadhg Beirne capt, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen (Brian Gleeson 65), Gavin CoombesLeinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose (Jordan Larmour 73) , Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast (Ross Byrne 63), Luke McGrath (Fintan Gunne 52); Jack Boyle (Andrew Porter 21), Ronan Kelleher (Lee Barron 63), Rabah Slimani (Cian Healy 52), Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (Brian Deeny 73), Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier (Scott Penny 73), Caelan Doris captReferee: Sam Grove-White

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