Munster suffered a 40-14 defeat to Bath at The Rec in the opening round of this season’s Investec Champions Cup on Saturday night.
An opening quarter blitz from the hosts proved too much for Munster as the hosts showed their power and clinical edge to take a 35-14 half-time lead.
Munster had plenty of possession and territory in the first five minutes but three dispossessions on Munster’s own lineout ball stemmed momentum and allowed Bath an opportunity to wrestle back control.
With Bath’s first maul attempt the hosts secured a penalty try after Tadhg Beirne illegally brought the setpiece down. The Munster captain also received a yellow card to make matter worse for the visitors.
A fifth Munster lineout went awry which resulted in a scrum for Bath. From this setpiece, Bath brought play close to the Munster line before a pick and go saw Miles Reid crash over. Finn Russell’s conversion ensured a 14-0 lead after just 10 minutes on the clock.
Two minutes later, Bath made it 21-0 when a grubber kick down field saw Henry Arundel collect and dot down.
Bath’s Tom Dunn was next to get on the score sheet with a try from the back of a maul. Russell’s conversion pushed Bath’s lead out to 28-0.
With 22 minutes on the clock, Munster got a much needed try when some passages of good play led to penalty concessions from the host. Eventually, Munster opted for a tap and go 5m out and after a strong carry from Gavin Coombes, Edwin Edogbo powered his way over for a try on his European debut. The try was converted by JJ Hanrahan.
Will Stuart went to the bin after Bath kept conceding penalties. Munster went for the 5m tap and go again severe defence pressure from Bath saw the hosts regain possession and clear their lines.
With the first half coming to a close, Bath went over for their fifth try which was converted by Russell before Munster got their second thanks to a snipe from the base of a ruck by Craig Casey.
Munster made three changes at the break with Michael Ala’alatoa and Lee Barron coming on in the front row while Alex Nankivell replaced Diarmuid Kilgallen on the wing.
Munster got off to a strong start after winning a scrum penalty in midfield which Hanrahan did brilliantly to drill into the corner. From the resulting lineout, however, the ball was stolen and Bath managed to clear their lines.
As it transpired, this was a big chance that was lost for Munster as the score remained the same entering the final 20 minutes.
Despite more opportunities in the Bath 22 Munster couldn’t get that third try and instead Ted Hill got a try for Bath against the run of play to leave the score 40-14 to the hosts.
EPCR Round 1 Roundup
Edwin Edogbo, Lee Barron and Ruadhán Quinn made their Champions Cup debuts.
Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen (Nankivell 40′), Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (J Wycherley 60′), Diarmuid Barron (L Barron 40′), John Ryan (Ala’alatoa 40′); Edwin Edogbo (Quinn 54′), Tom Ahern; Tadhg Beirne (C), John Hodnett (Kendellen 50′), Gavin Coombes (Wycherley 66′).
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Ala’alatoa, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Alex Nankivell, Alex Kendellen.