URC playoffs: Munster’s quarter-final victory celebrations tempered by injury concerns

Glasgow Warriors 5 Munster 14

Munster backed up their recent run of form in South Africa with victory over Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium to earn their place in the semi-final of the URC playoffs against provincial rivals, Leinster, at the Aviva next Saturday.

This was a win based on rock solid physical defence blended with flashes of inspirational back play. But undoubtedly Munster’s victory was aided by Glasgow being reduced to fourteen men after 25 minutes following the red card shown to Glasgow’s outhalf, Tom Jordan, for a head high tackle on Conor Murray, that resulted in the Ireland and Lions scrumhalf being forced to leave the pitch.

Glasgow’s coach, Franco Smith, had gambled on a 6-2 split on the bench and had not included a genuine out half among the replacements. The dismissal of Jordan then forced Glasgow to improvise, by moving their big centre Stafford McDowall to the 10 position for the first time in his professional career.

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As a consequence it is, perhaps, more difficult to assess Munster’s performance at Scotstoun. Munster’s head coach, Graham Rowntree, appeared to suggest that there is still mileage to find when he spoke after the match. “We’re going to have to be better than we were tonight to beat Leinster on Saturday. There is so much more we can do better. Overall there was a bit of frustration but we’ll take the win.”

Pleasing for Rowntree, however, was being able to turn the table on Glasgow after losing to the Scottish side earlier in the URC. He said: “We played Glasgow six weeks ago. We came short in the contact area and we had to be better. Tonight it worked. Right from the start of the game our collisions were better. We’ve got huge momentum. We’re learning our lessons. Our season’s been a bit of a roller coaster but now we’ve got some form because we’ve worked very hard and we’ve had a good look at our game.”

Glasgow’s coach, Smith, acknowledged that Munster had won the physical battle, saying: “Munster defended our set-piece very well tonight, which was class because most other teams succumb to the pressure we’ve applied there all season. From that point of view, they merit the win.”

Amid the jubilation of progressing to the semi-final Munster will have to face the possibility of missing several key personnel for the Leinster clash following an arm injury to Peter O’Mahoney and heads knocks to RG Snyman, Murray, Malakei Fekitoa and Calvin Nash.

Glasgow looked the likely winners in the opening quarter when they dominated territory and possession allowing the hosts to play a fast and open game. But Munster’s quick engaging and physical defence was up to the task and for all their endeavour Glasgow had nothing to show.

Then when Glasgow over-played their hand in moving the ball wide, Fekitoa put in a dominant tackle on full back Ollie Smith, achieving a turnover and with it a change in the game’s balance. Munster’s forwards pounded the Glasgow line before the ball was moved wide for Fekitoa to cross for a converted try.

The real momentum swing kicked in just minutes later with the red carding of Jordan and immediately Munster capitalised on their advantage, using their big forwards to drive at the line and then in a carbon copy of the first try, released the ball wide for Antoine Frisch to score, Crawley again converting.

Glasgow were able to claw back some lost ground with a second half try by Kyle Steyn but when they were reduced to thirteen men after Sione Tuipulotu was sent to the bin for a head high tackle on Fekitoa, there was no chance of stopping Munster’s progress to the semi final.

SCORING SEQUENCE – 22 mins: Fekitoa try, Crowley con, 0-5; 27: Frisch try, Crowley con, 0-10; (half-time 0-10); 66: Steyn try, 5-14.

GLASGOW WARRIORS: O Smith; S Cancilliere, S Tuipulotu, S McDowall, K Steyn (capt); T Jordan, G Horne; J Bhatti, J Matthews, Z Fagerson; S Cummings, R Gray; M Fagerson, R Darge, M Fagerson.

Replacements: N McBeth for Bhatti, JP du Preez for Gray, H Jones for Smith, S Vailanu for Darge (all 56 mins); S Berghan for Z Fagerson (62); L Bean for Cummings, A Price for Horne (both 66); F Brown for Matthews (72).

MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, A Frisch, M Fekitoa, S Daly; J Crowley, C Murray; J Loughman, D Barron, S Archer; J Kleyn, RG Snyman; T Beirne, P O’Mahony (capt), G Coombes.

Replacements: J Hodnett for O’Mahony (5 mins); F Wycherley for Snyman (17); C Casey for Murray (24); N Scannell for Barron (42); B Healy for Fekitoa, J Wycherley for Loughman (both 56); R Salanoa for Archer (62); A Kendellen for Kleyn (72).

Referee: Andrea Piardi.