Russell Raids Over For Late Leinster Bonus Point Against Valiant Munster

Replacement Rob Russell’s late bonus point try ended a youthful Munster’s valiant effort as Leinster claimed a 27-13 derby win at the Aviva Stadium.

Munster were only 7-6 behind at half-time, Joey Carbery kicking two penalties either side of Scott Penny’s 27th-minute try from close range.

The visitors put sin-binnings for Keynan Knox and Jean Kleyn behind them with a well-worked score from winger Liam Coombes, early on the restart.

Crucially, Dan Sheehan was quick to respond for Leinster in the 49th minute and from then on, it was smart wet weather rugby that took the BKT United Rugby Championship leaders clear.

Captain Jonathan Sexton and URC player-of-the-match Luke McGrath seized control, the latter crossing from a close-in maul. The final flourish put Russell over in the left corner.

Skipper Jack O’Donoghue led by example for Munster, who also had big shifts from Jeremy Loughman, particularly at scrum time, Diarmuid Barron and Jack Crowley.

Try-scoring scrum half McGrath deservedly scooped the URC player-of-the-match medal. Also impressive for Leinster were Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter, who brought plenty of impact off the bench.

Speaking in the aftermath, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “You have to give Munster a huge amount of credit. You see them there at the end in terms of battered bodies coming off the field.

“They kept throwing everything at us which is what you want to see in a provincial derby game. They have a lot of young guys there in their 23, they have a fair few injuries leading into the game.

“I thought they dug in and scrambled unbelievably well. They scrapped for everything, particularly close to the goal-line. We weren’t quite accurate enough so some of it is in our control.

“That’s the bit we need to get better at when you play these big games. Big stadium, big crowd, there was plenty of the game. Plenty of learning from our point of view.

“Then, we get guilty of trying to force things, pushing the pass, where we lacked that bit of control and patience at certain stages. There is a hell of a lot of good work because we get ourselves into good positions, make a tonne of line breaks during the game.

“We are delighted to get a bonus point win in a Leinster-Munster game, it doesn’t happen that often, does it? To come away with four tries is a positive outcome for us.”

Cullen confirmed that Tadhg Furlong, a late withdrawal, rolled his ankle on Thursday. He said the tighthead is okay, allaying fears about his involvement with Ireland in the coming weeks. Ciaran Frawley came off with a shoulder injury but it is not a concern.

Leinster, who were often guilty of misfiring in the opposition 22, were held scoreless despite a dominant start. Former Munster lock Jason Jenkins was held up early on and Sexton put a penalty wide.

Having missed a longer effort just moments earlier, Carbery kicked a possession and territory-starved Munster ahead in the 21st minute.

However, prop Knox’s forearm soon made contact with James Ryan’s head for a yellow card. Doris carried well before a well-supported Penny burrowed in under the posts for Sexton to convert.

Crowley and Tom Ahern increased their influence for Munster in broken play, the momentum leading to a second Carbery penalty.

A resilient Munster ended the opening half with Kleyn in the bin for taking out Jamie Osborne after a kick, but O’Donoghue did really well to hold up Sheehan from a late lineout drive.

Roaring back in attack, Gavin Coombes’ looping pass sent his cousin Liam over after O’Donoghue’s kick chase had forced an error from Jimmy O’Brien.

Although a brilliant Carbery conversion from the left gave Munster a six-point buffer, Sheehan replied with his sixth try of the season. He slipped through to score from a maul, having dummied a pass to McGrath.

Sexton’s drilled conversion from the right restored Leinster’s lead, and the 37-year-old play-maker landed a 56th-minute penalty to leave it 17-13.

McGrath then stole a march on the covering Dave Kilcoyne and Ben Healy to add the third try. Some prolonged Munster pressure failed to produce a score, with a frustrating scrum penalty counting against them.

It was the pacy Russell who sealed the victory with less then three minutes to go. Leinster had left a number of first half chances behind them, the best of them seeing Cian Healy put too much on a pass to Osborne who knocked on.

They saved the best for last, Garry Ringrose superb as he passed out of a double tackle and Doris released Russell to slide over in the left corner. Ross Byrne’s conversion came back off the near post.

It was a bruising battle and Munster, already hit with early season injuries, have further concerns over Carbery, who went off with a worrying shoulder injury, Kleyn, Liam Coombes, replacement Jack O’Sullivan and Ahern.

Awaiting an update on the players who picked up knocks, Munster head coach Graham Rowntree said he was ‘proud of the lads’ and how they performed against the Championship’s pacesetters.

“I just told them there, I’m proud of them,” he said. “There’s a sombre mood in there (in the dressing room), some young men who wanted to do better. I thought they deserved better than the scoreline.

“But I’m proud of them. I asked them to fight, keep fighting, get off the floor, keep fighting. I asked them to be brave and they did that. I thought they deserved more from that game.

“They managed the yellow cards quite well. Tight game at half-time and then we had a raft of injuries, which didn’t help momentum.

“Then a couple of key opportunities where we gave them access to our 22 and Leinster are exceptional there. It’s been challenging. The injury list has been mounting. Everyone gets injuries, I’m not blaming that. It’s a fact.

“There’s a lot of young men there having to step up and they’re learning. They’ll be better for it. We’ll have a very honest review again and we drive on.”