Connacht Win Bruising New Year’s Day Battle With Munster

Bundee Aki’s first try of the season saw Connacht win an ill-tempered United Rugby Championship contest as they edged out Munster 10-8 at the Sportsground.

Andrew Conway’s opportunist 22nd-minute score had Munster 8-3 ahead at half-time, with Connacht’s Oisin Dowling sin-binned late on.

It was Munster’s first URC outing since October and some jostling at the break saw referee Chris Busby show yellow cards to Shane Delahunt and Ben Healy.

Chris Farrell’s yellow for a dangerous 56th-minute tackle on Connacht replacement Tom Farrell saw Munster come up further pressure.

Connacht put together their best attack to drive Aki over on the hour mark, with replacement Conor Fitzgerald’s crucial conversion earning them only their second win in ten games against Munster.

Andy Friend’s men ruined a promising early maul with obstruction, yet a sharp break by Kieran Marmion preceded an opening 14th-minute penalty from captain Jack Carty.

Munster out-half Healy quickly replied with a levelling three-pointer, punishing a block by Ultan Dillane. The hosts then conceded a try out of nothing.

Mack Hansen had a clearance kick charged down by Healy, Shane Daly got his toe to the loose ball and Conway dotted down unchallenged in the left corner.

Although Healy missed the difficult conversion, Munster’s well-balanced back row – including Alex Kendellen on his first start – continued to make inroads.

Nonetheless, Hansen did well to scramble back and deny Conway before Munster’s pack emerged scoreless from a number of late tap penalties.

The niggly exchanges continued on the way to the dressing rooms, some pushing and shoving landing both Healy and Connacht hooker Delahunt in the bin at the start of the second half.

With Carty off injured, replacement Fitzgerald’s superb hands had the Connacht attack humming before he missed a penalty.

Mike Haley then had to react sharply to thwart Marmion’s brilliant solo break, after the Connacht scrum half had intercepted just a few metres out from his own line

Following a missed penalty from Healy, Munster were down to 14 men again when Farrell made ‘head-to-head’ contact with his namesake, the Connacht number 23.

With mitigation, referee Busby produced his yellow card but Munster were soon behind their posts, a cracking maul sending Aki over and Fitzgerald converted from the right in terrific fashion.

Just when Connacht were feeling aggrieved that Farrell had avoided a sending-off, Aki joined the subsequent maul to power over for a vital try.

Munster’s lineout drive had carried more threat up to that point, but the home side surged through for the Ireland centre to score.

Munster tightened up their defence, twice turning over Aki with the latter one from another maul. However, Connacht dominated possession during the closing stages and deservedly finished on top.

Damian de Allende, Fineen Wycherley and Gavin Coombes stood out for the men in red, each maintaining a high work-rate on a defence-dominated night.

But Cian Prendergast, Connacht’s ever-impressive young blindside, was the URC player-of-the-match for another dynamic display up front. Closely followed by Conor Oliver, the former Munster man.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Connacht head coach Friend said: “I just said to the boys that I didn’t think we played our best footy, I thought we left some chances out there. But some of that defence and heart and energy that they showed there tonight was some of the best I have seen.

“So that could be season-defining for us, to win playing ugly footy but tough footy. They are really pleased with themselves, as they are entitled to be, and I am really proud of them.