Our Munster columnist Trevor Murphy gives his take on Saturday’s derby clash…
This weekend’s match was always going to be the biggest test of the season so far. Leinster were coming off a defeat to Connaught and Munster to the Ospreys. This was never going to be a timid encounter and so it transpired. I had a couple of questions on the selection from the start. As far as I am concerned we must pick the form players to start a crucial encounter such as this. To accommodate the maximum attacking threat I would have made to following changes: Earls to fullback, Downey at 12, Laulala at 13, and... (deep breath!) Keatley at 10.
I expect to get some flak on that one but here’s my thought process. Ospreys were all over us last week. We need to have a 10 that will threaten the line. O’Gara has been the standard bearer for so long now that we have difficulty even contemplating Munster without him. But, he has been rusty so far this season. And nobody expects him to run from out half. That gives the defence fewer options to have to cover. With a defence operating with line speed as the Ospreys did it is very difficult to make headway. Let’s face it, we expected Leinster to be at least as strong as Ospreys!
The tempo was frenetic from the start. Inside of six minutes we were treated to two tries. The Leinster try scored under the posts by Straus after a strong scrum effort by the men in blue. The Munster effort coming from a good run by Earls on the right wing. The ball eventually making its way to the opposite wing for O’Mahony to score. ROG narrowly missed the touchline conversion. Munster went on the attack again and land a penalty to make the score 7-8. Three minutes later ROG lands another penalty to make the score 7-11.
From the restart we are pinged at the ruck giving Leinster attacking ball. We clear our lines briefly but Conway takes the ball back on the attack. Madigan goes over when he steps inside Laulala to get Leinster’s second try of the night. Sexton converts to make the score 17-11. Within the next ten minutes Munster concede two scrum penalties resulting in three points to Leinster. Score stands at 20-11. The penalties are adding up and it feels like we will be down to 14 men soon.
The next phase of Munster play is lateral but we get some relief when Straus is penalised giving ROG the opportunity to close the gap on the scoreboard. Score stands at 20-14. With time running out in the first half Munster are on the move again with Howlett making some progress before being manhandled into touch. A couple of errors costing both side dear but not surprising really given the physical intensity on display.
One thing that was key to Leinster performance so far was Sexton taking the ball to the line and making the Munster defence think. Munster looked good on the break willing to run from deep. Leinster just looks a little stronger in attack and defence. The Leinster scrum is getting a nudge on also.
Leinster starts the second half well with Jennings taking the ball into contact where Munster are penalised. Leinster makes some ground through the middle but knock the ball on allowing Munster to clear. A short time later Leinster concedes another penalty but ROG hits the post. Two minutes later Sexton increases Leinster’s lead with a penalty making the score 23-14. Ryan pinged for side entry at the ruck. That was a real bonus for Leinster with ROG missing his effort.
Murray and Nacewa clash quite spectacularly in mid air when challenging for a ball. No shortage of bravery there. Munster again concede ground through the middle with O’Driscoll going over in the corner. The Ref sends it to the TMO for a decision but when O’Driscoll is involved he always seems to find the strength to find the turf. Sexton converts to make the score 30-14. Munster is in real danger of letting this game get away from them now... To compound our problems, Varley is sent to the line for a ten minute rest for a ruck infringement during the build up to the try. ROG gets the curly finger for Keatley with 20 minutes to go in the game.
Conway is taken off on s stretcher after taking Zebo’s leg to the face. Leinster are racking up the injuries. I wonder how much of an effect the pitch is having on the players. It’s cutting up badly and looks like a ploughed field in areas. Munster muscle up in defence stealing the ball in a Leinster maul. O’Mahony is held up just short. Murray dives in unopposed in the corner and the linesman inexplicably doesn’t give the try. On the replay the linesman can clearly be seen looking right at Murray grounding the ball... There is a real issue in the league with some of the decisions by the officials.
Munster is showing some real appetite for the work required now. Munster gets a penalty with only a few minutes remaining. They unbelievably spurn the chance at three points and a losing bonus point. Instead they go for the lineout and work the ball to the try line. The ref deems the ball to have been knocked on in contact. This should have been referred to the TMO but instead the ref decides to call it on his own. This is something I later take up with him on twitter. To be fair he replied and conceded he should have referred the decision to the TMO. In another tweet he says that the TMO told him after the game that the decision would have been the same. That’s not how it seemed to most people watching the game...
Reddan and Cooney almost do enough to win a try bonus point for Leinster in the last minutes of the game. The bounce of the ball not going their way this time. Earls tried to make one last break but unfortunately it doesn’t come to fruition. The game is over and the slagging begins 
In truth Munster weren’t good enough on the day. But honestly, the project is well under way and there is plenty to be positive about. We may not win enough games this year but we are heading in the right direction. We will be a force to be reckoned with again in European rugby.
Sadly I won’t be in a position to write next week’s piece as I will be in the USA indulging my other sporting passion, NASCAR!!!
I’m Trevor, 39. A passionate Munster and Irish Rugby Fan. I have strong opinions on this beautiful game of ours. Stand up and fight!
