Big guns have the desired effect for Munster

Edinburgh 13 Munster 16:MUNSTER PUT behind them the demon of Murrayfield after emerging from the Scotland international ground with a narrow win in the second round of the Magners League last night.

It was a win, but head coach Tony McGahan was left with much to ponder, not least his side’s inability to convert possession into points during a dominant first half.

Munster looked more composed in the opening 10 minutes, their best chance coming from a slick pass by Donnacha Ryan that put Alan Quinlan clear.

When the flanker was brought to ground Edinburgh conceded a penalty, which Paul Warwick converted from 27 metres.

What looked to be a serious injury to Edinburgh’s Argentinian lock Esteban Lozada halted play for some 10 minutes as the Puma received on–field medical attention before being stretchered off and taken to hospital for observation of a head/neck injury.

When play resumed Munster quickly regained their momentum, and after Felix Jones had tested the defence with a teasing run Edinburgh gave away a penalty at the breakdown. From 40 metres Warwick kicked his second goal.

Edinburgh began to make territorial gains, but their attempts to put together cohesive moves foundered against solid tackling.

The visitors, however, conceded a penalty and with his first kick at goal Chris Paterson grabbed his side’s first points to leave Edinburgh trailing 3-6 at the break.

The home side, against the run of play, struck first after the break from a clever cross-kick behind the defence by Phil Godman and alert fielding by winger Tim Visser, who had the pace to outflank Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling. Paterson’s conversion gave the home side a four points advantage.

Munster brought on Tomás O’Leary, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara.

The arrival of the big guns had an immediate affect as Dowling took an inside pass from O’Leary after the scrumhalf had made a lateral break from a powerful scrum. Edinburgh stopped Dowling but in the follow-up O’Callaghan grabbed the ball to power over. O’Gara converted.

Edinburgh levelled the scores with a 40m goal after hooker Damien Varley had been penalised for offside at the breakdown, only for O’Gara to reply in kind.

It only remained for Munster to protect their three points lead, using close forward play and the boot of O’Gara to seal a win that takes them top.

EDINBURGH: Paterson; Robertson, Cairns, Grove, Visser; Godman, M Blair; Jacobsen, Ford, G Cross, Lozada, MacLeod, Newlands, Talei, Rennie. Replacements: MacKenzie for Lozada (30), Houston for Grove (52), Traynor for Jacobsen (56), McInally for Talei (64), D Blair for Godman, Kelly for Ford (both 65). Not used: Gilding, Laidlaw.

MUNSTER: Jones; Howlett, J Murphy, Tuitupou, Dowling; Warwick, Stringer; Du Preez, Varley, Buckley, D Ryan, O’Driscoll, Quinlan, Ronan, Leamy. Replacements: O’Gara for Warwick (32), Hayes for Buckley (44), O’Leary for Stringer (50), Horan for Du Preez, O’Callaghan for O’Driscoll (both 55), Fogarty for Varley (62), O’Mahony for Quinlan (67). Not used: Barnes.

Referee: James Jones (WRFU).