Leinster vs Munster: Leinster fight back from 13-0 down to win 24-18
Munster led 13-5 at the break and grabbed a losing bonus point late on, while a Gavin Coombes foul play allegation could still reach the citing commissioner.
Follow-up to Leinster vs Munster team news: Sheehan starts at No 8 as Carbery returns at 10
Leinster came back from 13 points down to beat Munster 24-18 and take a bonus point from their United Rugby Championship round-four derby at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday 24 October. The match may not be over yet, though. A foul play allegation from late in the first half could still be sent to the citing commissioner.
Munster started stronger and went 13-0 up. Their points came from a Shane Daly try, converted by Charlie O'Shea, who also kicked two penalties. Leinster had cut the gap to 13-5 by half-time.
The flashpoint came just before the break. Munster's Gavin Coombes said a Leinster player had grabbed him in the groin area. Referee Andrew Brace and the TMO could not find conclusive footage of the incident, so no action was taken on the field, but it could still go to the citing commissioner.
Leinster's four tries came from Tommy O'Brien, Ryan Baird, Charlie Tector and Jamie Osborne. Munster made life harder for themselves when centre Alex Nankivell was sin-binned after his side gave away a series of penalties. The visitors also lost Daly, their first try-scorer, who was carried off on a stretcher after a serious injury in the second half.
Munster still left with something. Full-back Ben O'Connor scored a try in the final minute to give them a losing bonus point.
A new-look Leinster
Leo Cullen's side won with a reshaped team. Captain Dan Sheehan, normally a hooker, made his first start at No.8. Joey Carbery made his first start since returning to Leinster, filling in at fly-half for the injured Sam Prendergast. Carbery left Leinster for Munster in 2018. Our Leinster vs Munster team news covered the selections before kick-off.
The win comes a year after Munster beat Leinster at Croke Park.
What comes next
There is no rest for either side. Leinster are away to Connacht on Friday 30 October (21:45 SAST). Munster host the Sharks at Thomond Park on Saturday 31 October (19:30 SAST). The full rugby fixtures list has the rest of the round.
Sources
- Munster's strong start fades badly as Leinster come roaring back for bonus-point win (Irish Examiner)
- Leinster 24-18 Munster: Leinster fight back to beat Irish rivals in bruising URC derby (BBC Sport)
- Leinster comeback wears Munster down at the Aviva (RTÉ Sport)
- Leinster v Munster: Five takeaways as 'self-inflicted wound' and two 'ridiculous pieces of skill' cost visitors who led for 56 minutes (Planet Rugby)
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