Munster secured narrow victory over Connacht in the first interpro of the United Rugby Championship on an emotionally charged night for the men in red.
On the day that they remembered the fifth anniversary of the passing of an Irish legend in Anthony 'Axel' Foley, Munster hosted Connacht in Thomond Park.
The first half was a fiery encounter, as neither side were willing to give anything away. Connacht were in the drivers' seat for much of the first half, with two penalties to keep them ahead for much of the half.
However, on the stroke of half time, Munster got on the board through a try from Chris Cloete, who capitalised on a cross-filed kick from Joey Carbery, which was toed on by Tadhg Beirne for Cloete to dive on.
After a mostly frustrating half, Munster go in to the interval a point ahead of Connacht after Chris Cloete's try on the whistle.
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/ppdfuAyEpa…
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/KxwCwKaIv8…#RTERugby #URC #MUNvCON pic.twitter.com/SOZOeyN8qQ— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) October 16, 2021
While the try got Munster into the lead at half time, Rob Kearney and Tomas O'Leary in the Premier Sports studio were quick to point out that Tadhg Beirne may have been offside from the cross-kick.
Both Kearney and O'Leary suggested that the try should not have been awarded, and that the referee's 'did not look too deeply at it'.
Things were a little bit fiery in that first half between Munster and Connacht, reminding @KearneyRob of when @Tomas_OLeary used to be involved 🔥😂
"It's great. It's what we expect and what we want from these interpro matches." 🗣️#URC #MUNCON pic.twitter.com/SrxhTkecgC— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) October 16, 2021
The match itself was full of small moments and heated exchanges, as both Munster and Connacht celebrated every small victory, with Kearney remarking that it was great to see interpros have this sort of 'bite' to them once again.
"It is great," Kearney said. "It is what we expect and it is what we want from these interpro matches.
"You could argue that they don't have the same amount of bite as they did five or 10 years ago, when Tomas [O'Leary] was the big, tough man there around the breakdown!
"It is good to see it back, and interprovincial games should have that level of spice and venom to it."
A superman-esque dive for the score! 🏉
It is a close one in Thomond Park | 🏟
🔴 13-11 🟢 | #MUNvCON | #URC https://t.co/aXUoHzYWDh— The Rugby Channel (@rugbychannel15) October 16, 2021
With the boot of Carbery extending the lead for the hosts in the second half, Paul Boyle got the visitors back into the lead with a diving effort from a quick-tap penalty.
Another penalty for Carbery had the hosts back in front, before Jack Carty charged the down a kick deep inside the Munster half and scored under the posts for a huge score with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Jack Carty more than atones for his earlier missed conversion, as Joey Carbery is punished for his casual play.
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/ppdfuAyEpa…
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/KxwCwKaIv8…#RTERugby #URC #MUNvCON pic.twitter.com/DDgvaycfqq— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) October 16, 2021
With just over two minutes left to play and Munster camped on their opponents' five meter line, Diarmuid Barron eventually powered over the line to level matters. Carbery added the extras to put the hosts into the lead, with a minute left on the clock.
Result: Munster 20-18 Connacht
A Diarmuid Barron try and a Joey Carbery conversion wins it for the hosts at the death.
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/ppdfuAyEpa…
📱 Live updates - https://t.co/KxwCwKaIv8…#RTERugby #URC #MUNvCON pic.twitter.com/jcBNd0i9Tu— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) October 16, 2021
That was all that was needed, as Johann van Graan's men held onto the ball to eventually clear the ball out for a 20-18 victory.
Munster will feel a sense of "relief" having come away with a narrow win, but do they have a controversial first half try to thank for it? 🤔
"As a Connacht fan, you are livid at this moment in time." 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/MJJO8nR5YN— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) October 16, 2021
After the match, Kearney remarked that it was 'so clearly offside', with O'Leary agreeing, stating that 'it certainly looked offside from here; maybe they have a different angle in Thomond Park'.
"As a Connacht fan, you are livid at this moment in time," Kearney said after the match. "It was always going to come back to that first half try that I am pretty sure wasn't a try.
"Sometimes you get the rub of the green, and tonight it was Munster who got that call!"
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