Munster 0
Exeter Chiefs 12
Barry Murphy reports from Musgrave Park
MUNSTER WERE HELD scoreless in their final pre-season warm-up as tries from Olly Woodburn and front row Harry Williams gave Exeter Chiefs the win in Cork this evening.
This was a powerful Exeter outfit and, with nine internationals in their starting line-up, they dominated a Munster side who ran up multiple changes, which started from early in the first-half.
With the sides due to meet twice again this season when they lock horns in the Champions Cup, neither side was likely to show their full hand with nothing up for grabs, and perhaps that will be the only saving grace for Munster after this fruitless night.
It was a poor opening to the game for Munster, who fell behind after nine minutes when Woodburn finished off a flowing move from right to left to score, although Gareth Steenson was off target with his conversion.
The second try arrived midway through the half when Williams crept over from close range, and this time Steenson made no mistake from the tee to give his side a 12-0 lead.
From that point on Munster improved in defence, but by the interval they were unable to impact the scoreboard, while new signing Arno Botha was introduced for his debut after half an hour.
Munster attempted to get back in the match after the break, but with the replacements arriving thick and fast from both sides it was hard to put together long phases of possession.
Credit to Exeter for surviving the best that Munster could throw at them, the home side forcing several penalties and looking far more composed than they had in the first half in several attacking scrums, substitute Arno Botha providing the visitors with plenty to worry about.
Still, the Exeter defence held firm, but only just, when Darren Sweetnam’s brilliant run was stopped just inches from the line at the three-quarter stage.
Substitute winger Liam Coombes was another to come close when he was scythed down a couple of yards out after 64 minutes and you sensed it wasn’t about to be Munster’s night.
Exeter Chiefs scorers:
Tries: O Woodburn, H Williams
Conversions: G Steenson
MUNSTER: M Haley; D Sweetnam, D Goggin, R Scannell, C Nash; B Johnston, J Hart; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, B Scott; J Kleyn, B Holland (captain); D O’Callaghan, T O’Donnell, G Coombes.
Replacements used: K O’Byrne, J Loughman, C Gleeson, C Parker, F Wycherley, D O’Shea, S O’Connor, J Daly, A Botha, N Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, I Keatley, S Daly, S Arnold, L Coombes, S Fitzgerald.
EXETER CHIEFS: P Dollman; S Cordero, I Whitten, O Devoto, O Woodburn; G Steenson, N White; A Hepburn, J Yeandle (captain), H Williams; O Atkins, S Skinner; D Armand, M Kvesic, S Simmonds.
Replacements used: M Low, J Innard, E Taione, A Petch, T Francis, T Salmon, S Lonsdale, T Lawday, S Townsend, J Maunder, J Simmonds, H Slade, T Hendrickson, T O’Flaherty, M Bodilly.
Referee: S Gallagher (IRFU).
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