URC: Impressive Munster put Ulster to the sword in Belfast

Ulster 17 Munster 24

It says everything about the congestion in the peloton behind Leinster, and with it the clamour for home advantage in the play-offs, that Munster went into the weekend in fourth place and could have finished it in eighth, yet this fine win elevated them to second. Suddenly, their season is alive with possibilities.

By contrast, Ulster began the round in second place but by close of business this evening could well be down to fifth, two points above Edinburgh whom they play next weekend away.

Munster deserved this win too, Ulster not rousing themselves until the belated introduction of Ian Madigan for the last 10 minutes after Michael Lowry had been well-shackled by a composed Munster defence which filled the pitch and kept men on their feet. Ulster’s only route to the try line was their maul.

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The visitors had the better attack, led for most the night and had some outstanding performers in Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue and Craig Casey, while Damian de Alende and Chris Farrell shut down the midfield, and Jean Kleyn and Jason Jenkins put in good shifts too.

This was unusual territory for Munster in some ways, not only ending a four-match losing streak at the ground but also enjoying sunshine for once as opposed to their customary mid-winter nights during the festive period.

Yet despite a glorious evening in Belfast, the hangover after last week’s painful Euro exit and acute sense of a golden opportunity missed was palpable, with a fair sprinkling of empty seats in the stands and spaces in the terraces.

The match was more than 30 minutes old before the first chants of “Ul-ster, Ul-ster”, as the home side tried to rally themselves as well, by which point Munster were full value for their 15-3 lead.

They had played the better, more confident rugby and with Carbery looking to float the ball wide even reached the edges to greater effect in the first quarter – during which Carbery cancelled out John Cooney’s opening penalty – and hence it was no surprise when they struck twice in quick succession.

First they held up the potent Ulster maul for a turnover after the home side went to the corner, then made a good exit before Shane Daly brilliantly reclaimed a box kick by Craig Casey. Opting for a penalty to the corner, despite not executing the catch and drive, Jack O’Donoghue retrieved the ball and drove toward the line, the ensuing sequence of pick-and-goes leading to Stephen Archer scoring.

The second try, within six minutes, was a beauty as Archer came through a ruck to claim turnover ball and there was some nice handling, notably an offload by the prominent Jason Jenkins, before Damian de Allende and Carbery moved the ball on to Chris Farrell, who beat Ethan McIlroy on the ball inside and drew the last man to put Earls over.

They comfortably kept Ulster at bay until the break, as Lowry ended the half by kicking the ball over the touchline with the “40” up, and the home side also lost Iain Henderson at the break.

Munster were knocking on the door of a third try soon after the resumption when Earls earned a penalty from Casey’s clever kick in behind and Ulster needed a pick-me-up. Stuart McCloskey provided it, picking off Carbery’s cross-kick inside the Munster half one-handed and grubbering in behind, Ulster then tapping a penalty into the corner and their maul rumbling for Rob Herring to score. Cooney converted too to make it 10-18.

Jaco Peypur then wrongly adjudged flat pass by Earls to Farrell was forward, and followed that up with three penalties in a row as Ulster went to their maul again. But Thomas Ahern, who had been moved to the bench after being unwell the night before, claimed a superb and significant steal with his first touch.

Similarly Conor Murray and Chris Cloete combined with their first involvement to force another turnover when Brad Roberts broke off a maul. Cloete immediately departed, meaning academy hooker Scott Buckley went into the backrow.

More significant was the belated introduction of Ian Madigan, with Lowry reverting to fullback, which sparked Ulster into life and gave their game width. The penalties kept mounting, Daly was binned for kicking the ball in a ruck and the catch-and-drive ended with Sean Reidy going airborne for the try, Doak’s conversion making it a four-point game.

But John Ryan kicked through loose Ulster ruck ball, and Carbery landed a penalty to finish the scoring.

Scoring sequence

8 mins Cooney pen 3-0; 12 mins Carbery pen 3-3; 22 mins Archer try, Carbery con 3-10; 28 mins Earls try 3-15; (half-time 3-15); 44 mins Carbery pen 3-18; 47 mins Herring try, Cooney con 10-18; 75 mins Reidy try, Doak con 17-21; 79 mins Carbery pen 17-24.

Ulster: Stewart Moore, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor, Iain Henderson (capt), Matty Rea, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Gareth Milasinovich for Moore 23 mins), Sam Carter for Henderson (half-time), Nathan Doak for Cooney (52 mins), Brad Roberts for Herring, Sean Reidy for Matty Rea (both 60 mins), Eric O'Sullivan for Warwick (64 mins), Ian Madigan for Moore (71 mins). Not used: Ben Moxham.

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Jason Jenkins; Jack O'Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: Josh Wycherley for Loughman, John Ryan for Archer, Thomas Ahern for Jenkins (all 52 mins), Fineen Wycherley for Kleyn (60 mins), Conor Murray for Casey, Chris Cloete for Hodnett (both 64 mins), Scott Buckley for Cloete (66 mins). Not used: Ben Healy