Peter Burke
This had all the criteria for being a good game. Munster on a seven game winning streak and Edinburgh needed a result to keep their hopes alive.
It was the perfect evening for a game.
It took 6 minutes for the scoreboard to light up with Ben Healy kicking a penalty putting the hosts 3 nil up
Six minutes later Healy added another 3 to their lead with another penalty after Munster conceded a penalty at the scrum, the scrum was going to prove a pivotal area for both this evening.
Midway through the half Munster hit back with a lovely move as Nankivell sent a pass out to Frisch and with two Edinburgh defenders in front of him and with little space, Frisch chipped the ball ahead, collected and grounded in the corner to get Munster back on track and with the missed conversion it meant Edinburgh held a one point lead
Munster were sloppy more often than not throughout the half as missed tackles and not protecting the ball at the breakdown caused turnovers and chances given to Edinburgh.
Haley had to leave the park and was replaced by Scannell.
Again another breakdown penalty against Munster was awarded and Healy added another three points for Edinburgh.
Edinburgh added to their lead after a mix up in the Munster defence saw Mark Bennett cross the whitewash which Healy converted to extend Edinburgh’s lead to 16-5.
Approaching half-time, Munster were all over Edinburgh and close to the hosts tryline and the hard work paid off as Frisch broke through the cover to score his second a superb move. Crowley’s conversion meant the lead was reduced to 16-12 going into the sheds.
Munster needed a good start in the second half and that’s exactly what they got. From a scrum in the Edinburgh 22, the ball went to Rory Scannell who passed it out the back to Crowley who ran into the space created by Frisch’s dummy line. The out-half converted his own try to put Munster into a 16-19 lead, a straight off the training ground move
The match was a nervy one for both sets of supporters and you just didn’t know which way this was going to go, one mistake one penalty and who knows.
Munster retook the lead after a quick 5m tap penalty gave Coombes the space to power over for the bonus-point try. Crowley converts and Munster have a 19-26 lead.
The next 10 minutes saw constant Edinburgh pressure and Conor Murray was yellow carded for playing the ball off his feet and arguably a penalty try might have been awarded, actually lets not go there as a couple of Edinburgh infringements went unchecked or unnoticed. Edinburgh opted to scrum and after two resets due to both front-rows popping up, the hosts won a penalty.
They tapped quickly and after a few phases, they scored after a lengthy examination by the officials, suffice to say a mug of tea and several chocolate hob knobs were had. The conversion was good to level up the game with 13 minutes remaining.
Munster retook the lead with a penalty from Crowley and the game finished with Munster winning by 3 points.
Final score Edinburgh 26 – 29 Munster
Next up Munster face Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday June 1st.