Munster Lose To Laidlaw-Inspired Edinburgh

An excellent individual display from their captain Greig Laidlaw inspired Edinburgh to a surprise 29-23 win over Munster in a gripping Heineken Cup opener at Murrayfield.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: EDINBURGH 29 MUNSTER 23

Greig Laidlaw converted seven of his eight kicks at goal, finishing with 19 points from five penalties and two conversions as he led the RaboDirect PRO12’s bottom side to a morale-boosting victory.

Munster were winners both home and away against Edinburgh in last season’s Heineken Cup, and came into this game in confident mood following their derby defeat of Leinster.

But Rob Penney’s men turned in a lacklustre display at Murrayfield, failing well short of the standards they set when reaching the semi-final stage last spring.

Matt Scott’s sixth-minute try gave Edinburgh an early advantage and the first half saw the lead change hands on a number of occasions.

Converted tries from Casey Laulala and Mike Sherry helped Munster edge in front by the 26th minute, but two penalties from Laidlaw made it 19-17 to Edinburgh at the break.

The tempo of the game dropped in the third quarter, although Munster seemed to be making headway when Ian Keatley landed a brace of penalties for a 23-19 turnaround.

However, when a JJ Hanrahan chip led to a quick turnover and a well-finished try from Tim Visser – converted by Laidlaw – the Scots were within touching distance of a real upset.

A further three points from Laidlaw made it 29-23 and the talismanic scrum half almost took the losing bonus point away from Munster in the final minutes – he watched a long range penalty attempt bounce back off the crossbar.

Munster, who lost Simon Zebo to a worrying injury late on, scrambled for a late converted try but a knock on from James Cronin ended their hopes as Edinburgh were left to celebrate their best result to date under new head coach Alan Solomons.

The early pace was frenetic with both sides guilty of some errors, Keatley overcooking a touch-finding kick and Edinburgh foiled by a turnover.

The home side duly pressed through bustling centre Scott, whose two carries sparked a strong set of phases that led to the game’s opening after just six minutes.

Munster were drawn left and right and although Jack Cuthbert was thwarted wide out, the visitors’ defence stood off to allow Scott to crash over to the left of the posts. Laidlaw’s conversion attempt went over with the aid of the left hand upright.

Edinburgh continued to dictate, their crisp handling keeping Munster on the defensive and after hooker Sherry infringed at a ruck Laidlaw stretched the lead to 10-0.

A head injury for James Downey brought Denis Hurley temporarily onto the pitch with Keith Earls switching to the centre, and it was the latter’s angled run off a Conor Murray pass that sparked Munster into life.

Grant Gilchrist coughed up a penalty after captain for the day Paul O’Connell barged forward, and the net result for the visitors was three points from Keatley’s right boot.

By the midpoint of the half Munster were back on level terms. Donnacha Ryan charged down a Laidlaw kick and collected the loose ball, the province piling through into the 22 and Laulala, fed by Murray’s inviting pass, managed to stretch over by the posts.

Keatley added the extras to tie things up at 10-all, but straight from the restart Edinburgh hounded kick receiver Earls and forced a penalty which Laidlaw landed – with the benefit of the left post once again.

The tit-for-tat nature of the match continued as Munster hit back with a 26th minute try, Sherry plunging over from a close-in ruck after James Coughlan and Paddy Butler had carried forward from a free-kick.

Keatley converted for a 17-13 lead only for Downey to be singled out for a ‘no arms’ tackle on the half hour mark. Laidlaw swung the penalty over to make it a one-point game.

A fine piece of high fielding from Cuthbert got Edinburgh on the move again and with Munster caught offside, Laidlaw brought his tally to 14 points and gave the hosts a two-point half-time buffer.

Munster failed to capitalise on an arcing run from Keatley before the interval, and Edinburgh also held them at bay from a close-in scrum.

The start of the second half was scrappy as referee JP Doyle whistled for a succession of penalties.

It took an encouraging spell of continuity from Munster – with props David Kilcoyne and Stephen Archer both showing good hands – to get them back on track and Keatley nailed a difficult left-sided penalty to move them back in front.

Penney’s side looked the more likely to grab the game’s next try, hammering away at the home defence – but Edinburgh skipper Laidlaw came up with two important plays, hounding Coughlan into an error at the base of a scrum and then dislodging the ball from Keatley’s grasp on the hoof.

Laidlaw though could do nothing as referee Doyle spotted the use of a hand to scoop the ball back at an Edinburgh scrum and Keatley knocked over the penalty for 23-19.

But Edinburgh proved the stronger side in a breathless finish. Replacement Hanrahan went for a chip out of his own half, he was knocked to the ground by Scott but play was allowed to develop and Grant Gilchrist passed for Visser to break away from both Earls and Murray near the left touchline to score a cracking try.

The score was confirmed by the match officials – Doyle had TMO Trevor Fisher check the challenge by Scott on Hanrahan and Gilchrist’s pass to Visser – and Laidlaw’s successful conversion suddenly had Edinburgh 26-23 to the good.

Munster were the authors of their own downfall at times and replacement CJ Stander, who otherwise had a very good impact off the bench, was caught offside after Laidlaw forced a scrum ball loose from Coughlan’s grasp.

Man-of-the-match Laidlaw stepped up to convert the penalty and as Munster lost the services of Zebo who injured himself when making a run, O’Connell coughed up another frustrating penalty near halfway.

Laidlaw’s 46-metre kick came back off the crossbar, but the three points were not needed in the end as the more consistent Edinburgh outfit deservedly held on.