It was the start of a new chapter in Munster’s history, as Anthony Foley took charge of his first competitive game as the province’s head coach.
After the distraction of an accidentally distributed management report over the last week or so, Munster’s all-Irish coaching staff would have been relieved to turn attention to matters on the pitch. Edinburgh were always likely to be stubborn opponents in Limerick.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the match. E-mail muray@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
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Good evening rugby fans and welcome to the 2014/15 season! We’re live from Thomond Park as Anthony Foley and his all-Irish coaching team get their project underway against Alan Solomons’ Edinburgh in the Pro12.
Let us know how you see this game going. Are you confident that Foley and co. can drive Munster to silverware this season?
Here are the teams for this evening’s clash. Kick-off is at 19.35.
Munster: Ronan O’Mahony; Andrew Conway, Johne Murphy, Andrew Smith, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Kevin O’Byrne, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan (capt.), Billy Holland; CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, Shane Buckley.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Alan Cotter, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ivan Dineen.
Edinburgh: Jack Cuthbert; Dougie Fife, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser; Greig Tonks, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt.), John Andress; Fraser McKenzie, Ollie Atkins; Tomas Leonardi, Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: James Hilterbrand, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Ben Toolis, Mike Coman, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Nick McLennan, Phil Burleigh.
We’re happy to report that conditions are perfect at Thomond Park – dry, warm and without a major wind to bother the kickers. Munster’s players looked relaxed as they took a quick tour of the Thomond Park turf.
There has been a late change to the Edinburgh team. Out-half Greig Tonks has dropped out with an unstated injury, meaning Tom Heathcote is promoted straight into the starting XV in his place. No changes to the bench.
Get your predictions in, both for this game and Munster’s season…
ROG is up for this one anyway…
Just over 20 minutes until kick-off here at Thomond Park. We’re especially looking forward to seeing Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith and CJ Stander in action for Munster.
Huge game too for both Kevin O’Byrne at hooker and Shane Buckley at No. 8, they make their first competitive starts for the province this evening.
If you’re looking to catch up on all that’s been going on in Munster over the last week or so, here’s a collection of our pieces on the province in recent times:
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5 important questions as Munster get Foley’s first season underway
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Keatley comfortable calling the shots in Munster’s fresh game plan
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Munster intent on growing Thomond Park crowds with improved facilities
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Stander eager to nail down Munster spot as Ireland ambition lingers
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‘It will never, ever happen again’ – Munster address leaked management report
TheScore.ie reader John Bransfield is in agreement that CJ Stander’s performance will be of particular interest tonight. The powerful South African seems to be a real fans’ favourite.
I hope Stander has a big game to continue his progress from last season.
Robin Copeland is out on the pitch being interviewed and explains that he took a knock to the ribs against London Irish last weekend, ruling him out of this fixture.
The No. 8 expects to be back to 100% by early next week and says the management had decided he wasn’t worth risking this evening.
Munster fans are happy [and probably relieved] that a new season is upon us. It’s been a long summer…
A fairly sparse Munster crowd at this stage in Thomond Park, but another 10 minutes left for a few more supporters to file in.
It will be interesting to note how Munster set up tactically for this one. Foley and attack coach Brian Walsh have promised more “balance” in their team’s use of possession, while defence coach Ian Costello has been pushing the players to add more line speed to their front-up D.
What would you like to see from this Munster team in terms of game plan?
Of Irish interest in the Edinburgh ranks is Ulsterman John Andress, who starts at tighthead prop for Alan Solomons’ side. The 30-year-old has had spells with Exeter, Harlequins and Worcester during his career, but joined the Scottish outfit during the summer.
Both teams are back in the changing sheds after their warm-ups as ‘Stand Up and Fight’ blasts out over the speakers. Just five minutes until Munster get their first season under Anthony Foley’s head coaching underway.
After what has gone on in the last week or so, an emphatic win would be ideal…
Fogs never forgets…
Edinburgh jog out onto the pitch, led by captain Ross Ford.
And here come Munster to a typically hearty Munster roar! Donncha O’Callaghan captains the team today, a true stalwart for the home side.
Leighton Hodges is our referee in Limerick this evening.
1 minute - Heathcote drops-off deep to the left to get us underway and Munster clear straight to touch.
1 minute - Knock-on from Edinburgh at their first line-out so Munster get a scrum 37 metres from their own tryline.
3 minutes - And Munster concede a scrum penalty first time up. Looked to be John Ryan pinged. Heathcote will have a shot at goal…
PENALTY! Munster 0-3 Edinburgh (Heathcote ’3)
6 minutes - Possession changing hands frequently as both sides make errors in their handling. Munster a little loose on D so far, but they are back in possession now and Keatley makes a break!
7 minutes - Again, Munster knocked-on after that Keatley darting break though and Edinburgh surged back downfield, cutting through the Munster defence twice. Worryingly disjointed from Munster when they don’t have the ball.
Edinburgh have been awarded another penalty, around 35 metres out and to the right of the posts. Heathcote will have another go…
PENALTY! Munster 0-6 Edinburgh (Heathcote ’9)
10 minutes - This is scrappy stuff from Munster as they now lose a line-out at the tail, knocking-on in the air under pressure. Edinburgh get a lovely attacking platform from the scrum…
11 minutes - Relief for Munster though as Edinburgh’s Alasdair Dickinson gets penalised for driving down on John Ryan. Keatley fires the pill into touch just inside the Edinburgh half…
13 minutes - Ooh, let off for Munster there as Dougie Fife burns away on the right wing, but the Scots are called back for a forward pass. Munster coughed up possession at the breakdown and nearly got punished on the counter-attack.
16 minutes - Scrum troubles here as we go for a third re-set of this series…
17 minutes - But Munster emerge victorious from that particular bout of scrummaging as they turn Solomons’ pack through 90 degrees and win the turnover. Williams to feed…
18 minutes - Another re-set and Hodges is now having a word with both front rows.
18 minutes - Munster finally win the penalty and will kick to touch close to the Edinburgh 22. However, Donald Donaldson in the comments section is not impressed so far:
This is pretty awful stuff. If Munster were against better opposition they’d be in real trouble here.
20 minutes - Finally, Munster string phases together in Edinburgh territory with CJ Stander and Shane Buckley carrying well. They win a penalty and Keatley opts to stick it into the corner rather than go for the sticks…
21 minutes - A quick injury break here. Ian Keatley will be hoping for more front-foot possession…
21 minutes - Very disappointing outcome for Munster from that maul, as the ball is spilled forward along the ground. Anthony Foley is not going to be pleased with this performance so far.
Edinburgh clear and Munster are back in their own half, with the Scots to throw into the line-out.
24 minutes - Simon Zebo gets his hands on the ball and attempts to create something with a clever chip over the Scots’ defence. The defence recovers to beat him to the pill, but knock-on in the process. Looks like an offside too, but no penalty.
Munster then shoved tight off their own scrum ball…
26 minutes - Shane Buckley has had to receive treatment already…
28 minutes - Another injury break and time for a breather. Not that it’s greatly needed. A really stop-start game so far, with the scrum resets adding to a sense of frustration for Munster fans.
Edinburgh kick deep into Munster’s 22, and Ronan O’Mahony misses touch with his clearing kick. Counter…
30 minutes - Penalty to Edinburgh now after their latest threatening attack. Just no linespeed from Munster on D so far, and then Duncan Williams is pinged for slapping the ball down on the fringes of a ruck.
Heathcote is going to have an attempt from wide on the right, 24 metres out…
30 minutes - He’s missed that one, with the ball sliding to the right of the sticks.
33 minutes - Again, it’s Simon Zebo who injects some life into Munster’s attacking play. First the Ireland wing flicks a clever pass out to CJ Stander on the left touchline, then he steps into first receiver to prompt his forwards onto the ball.
But again, the passage ends with a knock-on from Munster! The TMO is looking at a dangerous challenge on Zebo here…
33 minutes - Edinburgh’s Tomas Leonardi could be in trouble here…
YELLOW CARD! Tomas Leonardi has been binned for tipping Simon Zebo over in the tackle. He made contact with Zebo just as the wing passed to Stander. Munster kick to touch on the Edinburgh 10.
34 minutes - Munster building inside the Edinburgh 22 and then Zebo attempts a grubber through for Johne Murphy, unsuccessfully. However, advantage was being played and Munster come back for the penalty. Keatley knocks it into the left-hand corner, great chance!
TRY! Munster 5-6 Edinburgh (Stander ’35)
37 minutes - Keatley misses what looked like being a fairly routine conversion from just to the right of the posts, but that’s better from Munster! They went close with their maul, Holland and Ryan made carries and then Stander stretched out his right arm in contact to dot down.
38 minutes - That’s poor under the restart from Munster though as they kick directly into touch from just outside their 22. Edinburgh get an attacking chance immediately…
40 minutes - We’re off to the TMO to check on a possible Edinburgh try for Visser!
40 minutes - Despite their numerical disadvantage, Edinburgh created space for Visser wide on the left, with Sam Beard throwing the pass over the head of Conway. However, it was clearly forward so no try.
Hodges brings it back for an Edinburgh penalty, deciding that O’Callaghan hadn’t rolled away at a ruck. Heathcote to extend their lead…
PENALTY! Munster 5-9 Edinburgh (Heathcote ’40)
HALF TIME – Munster 5-9 Edinburgh
That’s it. A scrappy half from Munster and they will not be content with their performance. Loose in possession and the defence is struggling to get linespeed. What did you make of it?
Here’s a shot of CJ Stander going in for his try, one of the positives from that first-half for Munster. His fellow back row Shane Buckley has been a solid performer too, carrying powerfully at the back of two line-outs and offering one lovely offload in the Edinburgh 22.
Here’s the half-time verdict of TheScore.ie reader I love my County:
I must say, I’ve watched the full first half and I’m disappointed overall but I said yesterday that patience will need to be given to this team and I’ll stick with that for now but the poor attendance and atmosphere is really disappointing – I switched over to BT sport to take in last mins of 1st half of Norths v Gloucester at half time and it’s an entirely different tempo and atmosphere.
Hopefully we’ll improve in second half and get the crowd going a bit
Munster have informed us that the official attendance is 13,428 tonight. That figure includes all season ticket holders, many of whom have not turned up by the looks of Thomond Park tonight.
Here come the teams now…
41 minutes - Keatley restarts the game…
41 minutes - Munster have made a substitution.
Ivan Dineen on for Ronan O’Mahony.
YELLOW CARD - Hamish Watson is in the bin for killing the ball after a big Simon Zebo break took Munster to within metres.
42 minutes - Munster kick into the left corner and attempt to maul their way over! Edinburgh illegally halt the drive and Munster are awarded another penalty. Great early pressure in the second half.
44 minutes - But the penalty has been reversed! Munster are going to miss the chance to drive for a score. Edinburgh kick out to their 22 line and now win an easy penalty.
46 minutes - Scrum-half Sean Kennedy knocks-on to end a sustained period of Edinburgh attack inside Munster half. That followed a poor exit from Munster, with Williams dragged into a ruck and Keatley under pressure with his kick.
47 minutes - Another change for Munster:
Duncan Casey is on at hooker for Kevin O’Byrne.
TRY! Munster 5-14 Edinburgh (Cuthbert ’48)
49 minutes - Too easy for Edinburgh. Again, Munster failed to exit from their own red zone. Edinburgh countered off a knock-on, Sam Beard threaded a lovely grubber through and fullback Jack Cuthbert burned past Murphy to gather and score.
50 minutes - Heathcote has missed the conversion form wide in the right. Big, big 30 minutes for Munster now!
51 minutes - Munster work their way into the Edinburgh 22, but Williams makes a poor, loose pass. The home side regather…
52 minutes - Andrew Smith has the chance to pass to a flying Zebo on his right, but carries instead. The ball doesn’t come out of the subsequent ruck and Hodges calls a scrum for Munster.
52 minutes - Two subs on for Munster:
Dave Foley replaces Billy Holland and Tommy O’Donnell comes on for Sean Dougall.
53 minutes - Oh dear, Munster have given up that attacking scrum platform by being turned 90.
56 minutes - Stander, O’Donnell and Dineen all carrying well as Munster surge forward…
57 minutes - But a promising passage of play ends with an Edinburgh choke tackle! More frustration for the home crowd. Munster a little more direct on that occasion and looked the better forward, quicker rucks too. An error from Williams in the midst of the phases really stilted momentum though.
TRY! Munster 10-14 Edinburgh (Stander ’60)
60 minutes - That is brilliant from CJ Stander! The big South African bursts through a tackle, rolls and then stretches out again for his second try! But Keatley is wide with the conversion again.
62 minutes - This man is having a stormer, even outside his two tries.
65 minutes - More great work from Stander turns over Edinburgh as they attack inside the Munster 22. Dineen passes to Keatley, and the out-half fires the ball into touch, via the hand of Jack Cuthbert. Munster with an attacking line-out just inside the Edinburgh half…
67 minutes - Brilliant from Zebo, after Munster spin the ball wide to him on the left. He beats one defender, then kicks in behind Cuthbert and eventually forces the fullback into touch! Line-out Munster on the five…
68 minutes – Penalty to Munster under the posts as Mike Coman digs into the ruck to pinch the ball. Keatley should knock this over…
PENALTY! Munster 13-14 Edinburgh (Keatley ’69)
72 minutes - Edinburgh have returned to attacking now, inside the Munster half and building towards the 22…
72 minutes - But then Buckley comes up with an excellent choke tackle. He’s been great for Munster this evening.
76 minutes - Ooooh, Munster survive, just about. Watson was streaking away there after a missed tackle wide on the left and looked to be heading for the tryline. But Munster come up with a turnover penalty and now kick to touch…
78 minutes - Edinburgh have won a penalty 45 metres out in front of the sticks…
79 minutes - Heathcote is going to have an effort…
80 minutes - He’s missed, Zebo runs it back out…
80 minutes - Munster attacking from deep inside their own half.
YELLOW CARD! WP Nel is in the bin and Keatley has a chance to win it!!
80 minutes - Last kick of the game, Keatley from 42 metres and just to the right of the posts…
80 minutes - He’s missed it!
FULL TIME! Munster 13-14 Edinburgh.
That’s all we have time for this evening. Thanks for joining us and keep the comments coming. A poor start to life in charge for Anthony Foley at Munster, with many areas to work on moving forward.
