Edinburgh 12 Munster 7MUNSTER HAVE built up an impressive record over Edinburgh at Murrayfield in recent meetings but last night the defending Magners League champions failed to add to their successes at the Scotland international ground.
Arguably Munster were desperately unlucky to be on the wrong side of the TMO’s decision when David Wallace appeared to have forced his way over midway through the first half. But there was no excuses for Munster’s poor goal-kicking, Ronan O’Gara missing three penalty attempts.
Moreover, Munster failed to find an attacking game behind the scrum and in the forward battle they were surprisingly held by a lighter Edinburgh pack that more than compensated in mobility.
On the positive side Wallace looked sharp, Keith Earls had his moments but there was little from Springbok signing Jan De Villiers.
It looked unpropitious for Munster as the men in red gave away a penalty from the kick-off, the forwards going offside in their follow-up of Tomás O’Leary’s box kick. Edinburgh’s ace goal-kicker Chris Paterson stepped up and the ball sailed between the uprights.
Munster roared back but were off target with an attempted drop goal. Then when they attacked just outside Edinburgh’s 22m area Munster turned over ball.
Edinburgh had a chance to increase their lead from a second penalty attempt but a long-range Phil Godman effort fell short.
The home side were playing with confidence and tested the Munster defence with a succession of attacks but in the end Edinburgh’s inability to make dents added up to little progress.
Munster were under pressure again after Godman and Visser forced Paul Warwick to run the ball out of play just five metres from the visitors’ line. But a mistake by Edinburgh after the subsequent lineout meant a possible scoring chance squandered.
Edinburgh were penalised on their 10-metre line and it seemed Munster would level the scores only for O’Gara’s kick to drift past the far upright.
The outhalf, however, quickly atoned with a penalty kick to the corner to put the Munster forwards into familiar territory. The well-worked catch and drive failed but from an ensuing scrum Munster drove at the Edinburgh line only for Wallace to be denied (after a lengthy deliberation upstairs) what seemed a fair try.
Then when Lions skipper Paul O’Connell was felled a couple of metres from the line Munster appeared to lose the initiative, confirmed when Edinburgh won a penalty outside the visitors’ 22m line allowing Paterson to put over his second goal of the match.
With a minute remaining of the first half Godman attempted a drop goal. The ball flighted wide but Munster were judged to be offside, giving Paterson a simple kick at goal and a 9-0 interval lead.
Munster suffered a scare early in the second half when Tim Visser escaped down the left touchline but a fine tackle by De Villiers thwarted the attack. Having recovered their composure, Munster camped in the Edinburgh 22metre area but their attempts to score through their forwards was met with fierce resistance.
The visitors had an opportunity to claim first points but again O’Gara, this time from long range, was off target. Misfortune followed when a cross-kick from O’Gara went into touch to deny the perfectly placed Ian Dowling a try.
Munster, however, did not have long to wait for their just desserts. From a lineout close to the Edinburgh line the visitors’ forwards drove forward in several surges ending with Wallace diving low for the try, O’Gara this time having no problem with the goal kick.
A misfield by Paul Warwick put Munster on the defensive and when the visitors gave away a penalty at a scrum, Paterson made it four from four to put his side ahead by 12-7.
In a role reversal Edinburgh then offended at the set scrum on their own 10 metre line but again O’Gara was found wanting with his kick at goal. The Ireland outside half was replaced by Denis Hurley, who moved to fullback with Warwick assuming the pivot position. With the clock ticking down, Munster tried desperately to produce a late finish only to turn over ball, leaving Edinburgh justified winners.
EDINBURGH: C Paterson; B Cairns , N De Luca, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair ; K Traynor , R Ford, G Cross, S Turnbull, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant , S Newlands. Replacements: A Jacobsen for Traynor (40 mins), A Kelly for Ford, A Hogg for Grant (both 58 mins), G Laidlaw for Blair (69 mins), A Turnbull for Cairns (79 mins),
MUNSTER: P Warwick; I Dowling, J De Villiers, M Lifeimi, K Earls; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; Darragh Hurley, D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, N Ronan, D Leamy. D Wallace. Replacements: D Ryan for Leamy (45 mins), P Stringer for O'Leary (48 mins), D Varley for Fogarty (52 mins), S Archer for Darragh Hurley, M O'Driscoll for O'Callaghan (both 58 mins), Dennis Hurley for O'Gara (66 mins), F Jones for Dowling (75 mins).
Referee: G Morris (Wales)
