Munster Secure Semi-Final Berth, Ulster Still In The Hunt

Man-of-the-match Keith Earls was among the try scorers as Munster edged out Ulster 22-20 in a closely-fought GUINNESS PRO12 derby at Thomond Park.

The win confirms a PRO12 semi-final berth for Munster and builds further momentum ahead of next Saturday’s Champions Cup last-four date with Saracens in Dublin.

However, injuries picked up by backs Darren Sweetnam and Rory Scannell will concern Rassie Erasmus, while on-loan scrum half Angus Lloyd and Ian Keatley were late replacements for Duncan Williams (tight groin) and a benched Tyler Bleyendaal.

Ireland captain Rory Best and the 24-year-old Lloyd exchanged early tries and Keatley matched Paddy Jackson’s five points off the tee as the sides went in level at the break – 10-all.

Jackson kicked a penalty and converted Luke Marshall’s 64th-minute try for a 20-15 lead, however O’Callaghan rumbled over ten minutes from time and Jackson’s last-ditch drop goal attempt was never on target.

Although their winless streak against Munster now stands at six matches, Ulster’s losing bonus point – combined with the Ospreys’ surprise defeat to Cardiff Blues – keeps them in the play-off hunt. The Scarlets are now third on 67 points, just ahead of the Ospreys (65) and Ulster (64).

Ulster, who travel to the Ospreys in two weeks’ time, opted to play into a swirling breeze and hit the front from their opening attack, hooker Best barging over from a third-minute lineout maul and Jackson converting.

Munster managed to respond within three minutes, Peter O’Mahony’s right wing break exposing Charles Piutau’s lacklustre defence and Keith Earls and Lloyd provided timely support, the nippy scrum half evading two tackles to scramble over the try-line.

Keatley’s well-struck conversion was cancelled out by a Jackson penalty from in front of the posts, but the Ulster out-half failed to punish a high tackle from Billy Holland with his next place-kick.

Despite Munster failing foul of referee Marius Mitrea’s whistle, the visitors were thwarted from two attempted mauls and bustling centre Marshall, who broke dangerously from halfway, was a pass away from putting Ruan Pienaar through.

The men in red bossed the latter stages of the first half, Ulster’s handling and kicking errors inviting them forward and Keatley’s 36th-minute scrum penalty drew them level. Prop Dave Kilcoyne was just held up soon after.

Munster had nothing to show for some late scrum pressure before the interval, and eager Ulster full-back Jacob Stockdale had a try ruled out for Marshall’s forward pass.

Pienaar’s precise delivery had his captain Andrew Trimble threatening the Munster line – a rare moment of quality in a sloppy spell from both sides – and Jackson followed up with a successful 52nd-minute penalty for 13-10.

Into the final quarter, Francis Saili’s dancing feet saw him step past Trimble and Jackson and brilliantly feed Earls who finished with aplomb, rolling over the line with Bleyendaal unable to convert.

Stuart McCloskey made a big impact off Ulster’s bench, a muscular carry getting them into scoring range and with Saili shooting up out of the defensive line, Marshall broke onto Jackson’s invitingly flat pass to claim a seven-pointer to the right of the posts.

Scannell’s injury-enforced departure meant that reserve hooker Rhys Marshall had to come on, but Munster’s canny knack of winning tight games came to the fore again as they mauled up close before Abrie Griesel’s short pass put fellow replacement O’Callaghan over for the match-winning score, converted by Bleyendaal.