Official Newsletter

Team Named | Munster Side To Face Leinster

May 20, 2022 11:56 am By The Editor

Fineen Wycherley moves to the back row. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Saturday night’s URC round 18 clash against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium (7.15pm, live on TG4).

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

Jack O’Donoghue captains Munster with four changes to the side that faced Toulouse in the Champions Cup quarter-final.

Thomas Ahern, Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin and John Ryan all come into the side and a positional switch sees Fineen Wycherley move to the back row.

Mike Haley starts at full-back, Conway returns from a knee injury for his first Munster appearance since January on the right wing and Keith Earls moves to the left wing.

Goggin and Chris Farrell start together in midfield with the half-back partnership of Conor Murray and Joey Carbery unchanged.

Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell and Ryan pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Ahern in the engine room.

Fineen Wycherley, Greencore Munster Rugby Academy man Alex Kendellen and O’Donoghue complete the side.

In player news, Stephen Archer was unavailable due to illness.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue (C).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack Daly, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.

Press Pass | Leinster v Munster

Hear from Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan and Thomas Ahern ahead of the game.

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Report

Report | Munster Beaten By Leinster

May 21, 2022 9:48 pm By The Editor

Mike Haley on his way to scoring the second Munster try. Inpho

Munster will face Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals on the weekend of June 3/4/5 after a defeat to deserved winners Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.

Jack O’Donoghue, Mike Haley and Conor Murray touched down for Munster with Joey Carbery adding two conversions and two penalties.

Leinster were the more clinical side and scored after just two minutes when Scott Penny touched down in the right corner after a Ciarán Frawley crossfield kick.

Harry Byrne’s penalty after eight minutes to make it 8-0 after Munster were pinged at the breakdown but the visitors responded well to the early setback.

Offloads from Alex Kendellen, Thomas Ahern and Josh Wycherley sparked an attack with Keith Earls whipping out the pass for Jack O’Donoghue to score in the right corner on 12 minutes.

Munster hit the front on 16 minutes when Mike Haley was too quick for the Leinster defence at a ruck and broke through to score on 16 minutes. Carbery converted to make it 12-8.

Cormac Foley scored Leinster’s second try on 22 minutes off a counter-attack started by Jordan Larmour with Byrne converting to give Leinster a 15-12 lead.

Leinster’s Rob Russell was yellow-carded on 38 minutes but Leinster had a three-point advantage at the interval.

Murray scored the third Munster try 42 seconds after the break when Haley’s garryowen caused havoc and the scrum-half was on the spot to score. Carbery converted for a 19-15 advantage.

An adjudged high tackle from Murray on Foley gave Leinster a penalty and Byrne obliged to reduce the deficit to one point.

Carbery restored the four-point lead with a penalty after an intentional knock-on from Joe McCarthy as Munster attacked near the Leinster line.

The game was decided just after the 50-minute mark as Leinster scored two tries in three minutes.

The first of that double was set up by a Cormac Foley 50:22 with the Leinster maul earning a penalty try with Niall Scannell also sin-binned for illegally halting the maul.

The 14 men of Munster conceded a second try in three minutes when Rory O’Loughlin scored in the left corner with Byrne’s conversion making it 32-22.

Munster managed to steady the ship and Carbery knocked over a penalty to make it 32-25 just past the hour.

Byrne’s penalty on 70 minutes nudged Leinster 35-25 ahead and the hosts’ defence kept Munster at bay for the remainder.

URC Round 18 Round-Up

Jean Kleyn, Andrew Conway, Alex Kendellen and Jack Daly departed with knocks and will be assessed by the medical department.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway (Ben Healy, 63), Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin (Rory Scannell, 51), Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray (Paddy Patterson, 75); Josh Wycherley (Jeremy Loughman, 51), Niall Scannell (Diarmuid Barron, 63), John Ryan (Keynan Knox, 51); Jean Kleyn (Jason Jenkins, 48), Thomas Ahern (Jack Daly, 63-75); Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen (Niall Scannell, 65), Jack O’Donoghue (C).