News article – Style E 4840

A pensive Declan Kidney

Munster coach Declan Kidney admitted his side were fortunate to prize a 9-7 win away from Border Reivers’ grasps on Friday night.

Kidney, taking competitive charge of Munster for the first time since the province’s 2002 Heineken Cup final loss to Leicester, watched his charges stutter in their opening Celtic League game of the season at Thomond Park. They had to rely on two Paul Burke penalties and a match-winning kick, just past the hour mark, from teenage substitute Jeremy Manning to net a hard-fought victory.

The Corkman put Munster’s try-less performance down to rustiness as many of those involved had not featured in pre-season. “We rode our luck a bit at times,” he admitted, “but I think you have to recognise that this was the first outing of the season for a lot of the team.

“We looked to inject a bit more pace into the game but it wasn’t that kind of match and I suppose we suffered a bit.”

It will be interesting to see, with Mossie Lawlor and Paul Devlin overlooked this time, if Ireland flanker David Wallace retains his berth on the right wing for Saturday’s visit of the Ospreys to Cork.

While Wallace remaining out wide is unlikely, Kidney admitted: “David played on the wing tonight for the benefit of the team and we will take du recognition of that sacrifice. But he didnt’ play badly at all – he carried the ball well and I was happy with his performance.”

Reivers’ boss Steve Bates, whose big summer purchase Gregor Townsend nabbed the game’s only try on 34 minutes, was pleased with his side’s performance despite their point-less second half.

“We’re feeling a bit deflated at present as we probably deserved to win the game,” said Bates.

“The penalty that won the game for Munster was from a collapsed scrummage and you can debate the rights and wrongs of that for ever. We did a lot of good things and looked dangerous a couple of times. Considering we were playing away from home against a quality Munster side, that aspect was pleasing.”