Munster’s opening game of the Heineken Champions Cup had everything in it as the men in red not only survived an action-packed afternoon of rugby but produced a fantastic bonus point 32-14 win against Wasps in Coventry.
Munster face Castres on Saturday in round two at Thomond Park with tickets available here.
Twelve players made their Munster senior debuts and a well-oiled machine of experienced players and young guns did everything asked of them when producing the goods against a 14-man Wasps.
A fantastic travelling support got behind Munster throughout and gave the team a real boost in what was a breathless encounter.
A blistering start saw Peter O’Mahony produce a superb try saving tackle to deny Wasps a try in the corner in the opening two minutes.
Munster led by three after 6 minutes with Joey Carbery kicking the first points of the game after Wasps were pinged for offside.
The hosts had an opportunity to reply two minutes later with Munster not rolling away, but Jimmy Gopperth’s attempt struck the upright.
An outstanding defensive effort was needed to stop Wasps as they attacked off their lineout maul and Tadhg Beirne showed great skill to cause huge disruption.
Wasps identified the scrum as an area to target with five Champions Cup debutants in the Munster pack, however the tempo never let up for the opening quarter as both sides challenged to get a foothold in the game.
John Hodnett, making his Champions Cup debut, certainly wasn’t fazed by the occasion applying the pressure at the breakdown winning turnover ball at crucial times.
The home side were reduced to 14-men when captain Brad Shields was issued with a red card on 25′ for a high challenge on Dave Kilcoyne.
Carbery missed the penalty as the ball hit the post but he made up for it two minutes later when converting his third penalty attempt.
With the much-changed make-up of both sides the game at times was chaotic.
The frenzied nature didn’t let up when an open passage of play saw red shirts and black shirts offload and move the ball at pace. The end-to-end play finished with Wasps scoring the first try after the half hour mark with number 8 Alfie Barbeary getting over the whitewash.
Gopperth added the conversion to give the home side the one-point lead, 7-6.
A period of sustained pressure followed for Munster and with a free play penalty advantage awarded Conor Murray chipped over the Wasps defence and Keith Earls was on hand to capitalise as he touched down on the loose ball to score his 60th try for the province.
Joey kicked the conversion and with five minutes left in the half Munster led 13-7. Wasps hooker Dan Frost was yellow-carded late in the first half after a great block from Eoin O’Connor put pressure on the hosts.
All in all, it was a thoroughly entertaining and wild half of rugby.
Nineteen-year-old Patrick Campbell made the dream debut when scoring Munster’s second try early in the second half. The young fullback took advantage with Munster having an overlap out wide and took his moment when opting to split the Wasps defence himself and touch down for the five points.
Joey’s kick once again found the upright and the conversion didn’t go over so it remained 18-7.
The momentum continued for Munster with Andrew Conway getting over for the third try after he ran in unopposed after Wasps spilled the ball after launching a counter-attack.
Carbery’s conversion made it 25-7 as Frost returned shortly afterwards.
The next score was crucial and it went to Munster as a brilliantly worked lineout move saw Beirne play the inside pass for Buckley to score the bonus-point try under the posts. Carbery converted to give Munster a 32-7 advantage.
Wasps hit back when Michael Le Bourgeois picked a good line to score from close range to reduce Munster’s lead but a Carbery penalty made it 35-14 after 67 minutes.
The Munster bench, including seven debutants, were all introduced in the final quarter and acquitted themselves very well. Joey Carbery departed late on with an injury and will be assessed by the medical team.
Champions Cup Round 1 Round-Up
12 players made their Munster debuts in the clash.
Greencore Munster Rugby Academy hooker Scott Buckley was named Heineken Star of the Match.
John Hodnett made his first start in 13 months after recovering from an achilles injury.
Chris Farrell made his first appearance of the season with Conor Murray and Damian de Allende making their first Munster starts of the campaign.
Patrick Campbell and Buckley scored their first Munster tries on their debuts for the province.
Joey Carbery departed in the second half and will be assessed by the medical team.
Munster: Patrick Campbell (J Wren 72’); Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery (T Butler 72’, Conor Murray (E Coughlan 76); Dave Kilcoyne (M Donnelly 64’), Scott Buckley (D Moore 70’), James French (R Salanoa 57’); Eoin O’Connor (J Forde 70’), Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett (C Moloney 70), Daniel Okeke.