Hello, and welcome to The 42’s live coverage of this afternoon’s Champions Cup clash between Exeter and Munster.
Graham Rowntree’s men are aiming to bounce back from disappointment against Bayonne at Sandy Park. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are looking to make it two wins from two on home soil.
Kick-off is 1pm, with the game live on ITV1 and TNT Sports 1, but we’ll keep you updated right here.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s a look at your XVs for this afternoon’s clash.
Munster ring the changes, with Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch and Craig Casey brought into the backline, while Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer and Jack O’Donoghue are drafted into the pack. There are some positional changes, with Oil Jagger and Brian Gleeson set for Champions Cup debuts from the bench.
Exeter
- 15. Tommy Wyatt
- 14. Olly Woodburn
- 13. Henry Slade
- 12. Joe Hawkins
- 11. Ben Hammersley
- 10. Harvey Skinner
- 9. Tom Cairns
- 1. Scott Sio
- 2. Dan Frost
- 3. Ehren Painter
- 4. Rusi Tuima
- 5. Dafydd Jenkins (captain)
- 6. Lewis Pearson
- 7. Jacques Vermeulen
- 8. Greg Fisilau
Replacements
- 16. Max Norey
- 17. Nika Abuladze
- 18. Marcus Street
- 19. Jack Dunne
- 20. Ross Vintcent
- 21. Stu Townsend
- 22. Ollie Devoto
- 23. Rory O’Loughlin
Munster
- 15. Shane Daly
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 12. Antoine Frisch
- 12. Alex Nankivell
- 11. Seán O’Brien
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Craig Casey
- 1. Jeremy Loughman
- 2. Diarmuid Barron
- 3. Stephen Archer
- 4. Gavin Coombes
- 5. Tadhg Beirne (captain)
- 6. Tom Ahern
- 7. John Hodnett
- 8. Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements
- 16. Eoghan Clarke
- 17. Josh Wycherley
- 18. Oli Jager
- 19. Brian Gleeson
- 20. Alex Kendellen
- 21. Conor Murray
- 22. Rory Scannell
- 23. Ben O’Connor
Referee: Mathieu Raynal [France].
The Munster camp have been speaking to ITV.
Tadhg Beirne labelled this a must-win game, discussing the southern province’s need to “hit the ground running” and the importance of some set-piece fixes as they focus on themselves.
“This game is going to be huge for us, that hasn’t changed,” Beirne said. “The draw last weekend was disappointing… we feel like we have to win this game.”
“Last week felt like a bit of a loss,” Graham Rowntree added.
“Our form on the road, we won’t look at that, we’ll look at what’s in front of us and the first 20 minutes of this game before anything else.”
Murray Kinsella is at Sandy Park for us. In his match preview, he makes the point that Munster must deliver in Exeter after leaving themselves under pressure:
Time for Munster to roll out another of their memorable away days in the Champions Cup.
They’ve left themselves with work to do after a draw at home against Bayonne last weekend and it would be no surprise if the pressure sees them produce against Exeter at Sandy Park this afternoon.
This is only Round 2 of their pool campaign but already there is heat on Graham Rowntree’s men to deliver a win on the road.
With Northampton already sitting top of Pool 3 after two wins from two, Munster can ill afford to let Exeter notch their second victory in two games, which would leave the English sides well in front and the Irish province chasing. Munster still have pool games away to Toulon and at home to Northampton in January to come, but home advantage in the knock-out stages will be as crucial as ever. Success today in Exeter would make Rowntree’s Christmas far more comfortable…
- You can read the full match preview here>
Right so, time to call it…
Who do you think will win today’s game?
Poll Results:
Nearly go time! The Munster fans are in the festive spirit anyway…
The teams are out on the pitch. We’re observing a minute’s silence for the late Syd Miller before kick-off.
KICK-OFF: Jack Crowley gets us underway, Munster playing from right to left as seen on TV.
2 mins – Exeter 0-0 Munster
Some nice early play from Munster, working through the phases. They’re caught, but can breathe a sigh of relief as they eventually clear their lines and find touch.
5 mins – Exeter 0-0 Munster
Exeter pinged for a forward pass just inside their own half. The Chiefs pack drive in the scrum but Munster get the ball away just in time.
Penalty Munster for Ben Hammersley not releasing under pressure. Crowley goes to the corner, they must retake the lineout though.
8 mins – Munster 7-0 Exeter
TRY for Munster! (Nash 7)
That all came from the lineout. Munster worked the move well, intent on making a bright start at Sandy Park. Eventually, Calvin Nash dots down after Craig Casey spreads it wide with a superb pass. Crowley adds the extras.
10 mins – Munster 8-0 Exeter
Not the immediate response Exeter would have wanted. The hosts were slow at the breakdown, although Munster did make their pressure tell. A poor kick to touch adds to their woes.
18 mins – Exeter 7-7 Munster
TRY for Exeter! (Frost 16)
All square. Exeter come alive, with Ben Frost finishing a nicely-worked try and Henry Slade converting. It was Frost who started it all, turning Casey over and the hosts enjoying a up-field breakaway.
Eventually, they won a penalty, Harvey Skinner went to the corner and from the lineout maul, they make it count. It’s a case of little by little, Frost with the final say.
22 mins – Exeter 7-7 Munster
Crowley tries an exquisite cross-field ball to Seán O’Brien, but Olly Woodburn does well to judge the bouncing ball and keep it. Skinner’s kicking, meanwhile, hasn’t been the best.
Munster 12-7 Exeter
TRY for Munster! (Tom Ahern 23)
Superb attack. Munster show exactly how to combat the Exeter press: Crowley cuts them open with a beautiful dink, Aherne gets on it and breezes down the wing to finish. The travelling 10 doesn’t add the extras, but Munster are back in front and will be hugely satisfied with that one.
27 mins – Munster 12-10 Exeter
Henry Slade nails a penalty to reduce the deficit to two.
28 mins – Munster 12-10 Exeter
Let-off for the Chiefs from the restart! Lewis Pearson is their saving grace, after Nash and Frisch combine from Crowley’s kick. Munster have a real platform now from the lineout and will be intent on making it tell on the scoreboard.
32 mins – Munster 12-10 Exeter
Rowntree’s men were smelling blood there and really should have done better, but they shoot themselves in the foot with a wayward pass and Exeter clear their lines. The danger isn’t fully gone though amidst some over-and-back around the middle. Crowley has ample opportunity to hit the corner, but his kick is poor and intercepted.
35 mins – Munster 12-10 Exeter
Munster keep finding joy out wide, again down the right. The ball is zipped out and John Hodnett clocks a big carry. Exeter manage to force a turnover, but knock forward, so Munster scrum after a break in play.
38 mins – Munster 19-10 Exeter
TRY for Munster! (Frisch 37)
Another excellent try for the southern province. They work through the phases from the scrum and win a penalty advantage for a high challenge on Casey. No need to avail of it though as they pile the pressure on Exeter in the middle with intricate passing before, again, using the width and punishing them. They leave Antoine Frisch out wide, Hodnett offloads and he crosses in the corner. Crowley is on target with the tight-angled conversion, and Munster are nine clear.
41 mins – Munster 19-10 Exeter
The Chiefs are looking to finish strong and reduce the deficit at the break. They break down the left, but are held up on the line and win a penalty. To the corner, they go. Casey is back on the field after receiving treatment on an arm injury amidst it all.
HALF-TIME: Munster 19-10 Exeter
Incredible steal from Tadhg Beirne on the line. “The turnover king,” as the ITV commentators call him. That’s a huge boost for Munster right on the stroke of half time, they retain their nine-point lead.
Some of Murray Kinsella’s thoughts from the closing stages of that half:
Typical Tadhg Beirne.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 17, 2023
Huge stop from Shane Daly on Vermeulen in the corner to prevent a try in the previous passage.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 17, 2023
Daly having a cracking game at fullback.
A decent half of rugby there, some great play from Munster. A positive response from Graham Rowntree’s men after last week’s disappointment: their three tries have Exeter’s run of 21 consecutive home wins in danger. Much more to come after the break, let us know what you think in the comments’ section below.
SECOND HALF: We’re back underway, Exeter getting things up and running once again.
42 mins – Munster 19-10 Exeter
Errors on either side to start the second period. First, Exeter concede a scrum after an unfortunate knock on. Off it, the ball flies through Aherne’s hands from Casey’s pass and ends up out of bounds.
45 mins – Munster 19-10 Exeter
The Chiefs have a penalty, and Slade seems to be going for the posts rather than the corner. Conceded after Beirne lost his balance in a ruck.
46 mins – Munster 19-13 Exeter
Successful kick, and Slade reduces the gap to six.
49 mins - Munster 19-13 Exeter
Some subpar kicking from both sides there as they look to make a positive restart. Munster are on the charge; Frisch and O’Brien combine down the left before Jack O’Donoghue pops up with a big carry in the middle. Can they make this count?
52 mins – Munster 24-13 Exeter
Try for Munster! (Daly 50)
The answer is yes. Shane Daly secures the bonus point, Crowley miscues the conversion.
Antoine Frisch was central to it all, producing a moment of individual brilliance with a dummy to send Diarmuid Barron on his way. Exeter can’t live with his powerful carry and Munster eventually find Daly, who crashes home in the corner. Their ability to find width paying dividends again.
55 mins – Munster 24-13 Exeter
Gavin Coombes steps up with some big turnovers, the latest involved winning a jackal penalty on his own 22.
Exeter introduce some fresh legs, who should Graham Rowntree look to from the bench?
57 mins – Munster 24-13 Exeter
Ill discipline creeping in from Munster as O’Donoghue and Coombes are penalised. Exeter could really capitalise on this. They go for the corner from close range, Beirne holds them up on the line from the lineout. Big test here at the 5m scrum…
59 mins – Munster 24-13 Exeter
They pass it with flying colours, resisting their hosts and avoiding a major blow. Jeremy Loughman ultimately came up with a vital steal at the breakdown.
Rowntree has made his first changes of the day, with Oli Jagger coming in for his Champions Cup debut and Conor Murray replacing Casey. They were both in for the previous play.
SUB | Oli Jager comes on to makes his #InvestecChampionsCup debut, replacing Stephen Archer after 57 minutes.
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 17, 2023
Yet another big shift from our record caps holder.
13-24#EXEvMUN
61 mins – Munster 24-13 Exeter
After a break in play for an Exeter injury, we’re back underway… well, momentarily, as a Munster player is now receiving treatment. Not much happened in between, with Munster withstanding some pressure from the Chiefs and half clearing their lines.
Exeter think they have a try. Over to the TMO.
Munster 24-20 Exeter
TRY for Exeter! (Vintcent 64)
Munster’s maul defence lets them down, Ross Vintcent showing incredible strength to get over. Conversion is good, four-point game.
67 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
TRY for Exeter! (Dunne 66)
And just like that, the Chiefs hit the front! What a chase from Jack Dunne, the former Leinster man completes the turnaround after following up a big kick and getting the better of Nash to crash over. Slade converts to add some breathing space. What a mad few minutes!
70 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
Exeter have their tails up. Munster, meanwhile, have suffered an injury blow with Jack O’Donoghue limping off. Brian Gleeson, the Ireland U20 international who was in the running for RTÉ Young Sportsperson of the Year last night, is on for his European bow.
70 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
Chiefs in a good position but too slow to get the ball away at the breakdown so they’re pinged and the Munster defence celebrate a turnover. Good work, could be a big moment.
72 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
Referee Mathieu Raynal is having a good look at a Harvey Skinner challenge on Jack Crowley. “Indirect contact,” he concludes, awarding a penalty kick only.
73 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
Mixed feelings around that decision, but on we go. Jack Crowley finds touch and Munster are motoring again after the lineout. They really need something here, have had very little of the ball since their fourth try.
75 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
They eventually roll the dice with a decent Crowley kick. Exeter retain the lineout with a long one and it’s tit-for-tat. Exeter’s #2 pinger for interfering with Murray’s pick-and-go, Crowley hits the corner. Big turnover for Exeter eventually though. Five minutes to go.
78 mins – Exeter 27-24 Munster
Another big boost for Exeter after a strong scrum, with Nika Abuladze’s impact crucial. They celebrate that like it’s game over. The Georgian has been excellent off the bench, as has Jack Dunne. There’s still time for a big Munster rally, though.
Exeter 32-24 Munster
TRY for Exeter! (Slade 79)
A breakaway try to put the cherry on top for Exeter. Henry Slade intercepts a Conor Murray pass and storms home to the delight of the home crowd.
Well, actually, the TMO is having a look…
The officials seem to be in agreement that Slade is onside, but Beirne has done his utmost to argue it. Try. Confirmed. 32-24. He now gets the chance to add the extras.
FULL-TIME: Exeter 32-24 Munster
Conversion off target, but Slade’s smile says it all. It doesn’t really matter. What a comeback win from the Chiefs to make it two from two. Defeat for Munster, but they head home with a losing bonus point. A disappointing second-half collapse, as the wait goes on for their first win in the 2023/24 Champions Cup.
Defeat in Sandy Park as we come away from Exeter with one bonus point. #EXEvMUN #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/L72KReGPAg
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 17, 2023
That’s all in terms of our liveblog, but Murray Kinsella’s match report will be available to read on The 42 imminently. And as always, we’ll have no shortage of reaction, analysis and colour over the next few days.
Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
