After a near six month month layoff, Irish rugby returned this evening with the PRO 14 meeting of Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium this evening. It would be Leinster who ran out winners on a scoreline of 27-25 in a thriller.
While we have grown used to watching sporting events without fans present, it was still somewhat unnerving to see a meeting of these two provinces without the ferocious support this fixture is typically greeted with.
Luckily, it did little to impact the quality of rugby on show.
Munster took the lead in the 13th minute after making their pressure on the Leinster line pay. Some good work through the forwards opened up the far wing for Andrew Conway to score an easy try.
13: TRY @Munsterrugby!
Phase after phase from Munster before Andrew Conway crosses!
LIVE now on eir sport 1!#GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/iPZc3UzoMo— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
Leinster would bounce back a few minutes later.
It came from a line-out, with Cian Healy ultimately finishing off what a perfectly crafted set-piece move.
20: TRY @leinsterrugby!
Immediate response from Leinster as Cian Healy finishes off a perfect set-piece move.
LIVE now on eir sport 1! #LEIvMUN #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/eJsi46oCNw— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
The team traded penalties for most of the remainder of the half, with Johnny Sexton and JJ Hanrahan both scoring off the tee.
Munster had most of the ball in the opening period, but a major turning point came just before half time. Leinster would grab their second try, with Robbie Henshaw's glorious dink in behind setting up Garry Ringrose.
40: TRY Leinster!
Sensational kick through from Robbie Henshaw finished brilliantly by Garry Ringrose.
LIVE now on eir sport 1! #LEIvMUN #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/TX7p5XaDrJ— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
They extended their lead ten minutes after the interval.
It was a beautiful team try from Leinster, with the wonderful delayed pass from Johnny Sexton to release Ryan Baird, who fed James Lowe to finish.
51: TRY Leinster!
Sexton➡️Baird➡️Lowe
That pass from Johnny Sexton 😍😍😍
LIVE now on eir sport 1! #GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/Cfw4o0SRtJ— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
That pass 🤩#LEIvMUN #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/I9iSli9R3c
— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
This continued Lowe's fantastic record against Munster, with the New Zealand native scoring his fourth try in his seventh appearance against the Irish province.
Keith Earls gave Munster a chance late on after a stunning try in the corner, holding off a number of opposition defenders to touch the ball down.
65: TRY Munster!
Keith Earls that is simply outrageous 😲😲😲#LEIvMUN #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/DDf2SCXpF1— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
JJ Hanrahan converted the resulting conversion, but a penalty from Ross Byrne with ten minutes to go pushed the lead back out to seven points.
However, some brilliant play from Andrew Conway gave them a chance to draw level with only five minutes to go. Look at this for a step.
72: TRY Munster!
What a finish from Andrew Conway!
Latest: Leinster 27-25 Munster. LIVE now on eir sport 1. #GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/ZkelUi2eju— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 22, 2020
Unfortunately for Munster, JJ Hanrahan would pull the resulting conversion attempt just wide.
Munster continued to push, but Leinster ultimately came away with the win.
This result won't have a huge effect on the PRO 14 standings, with both sides already assured of a place in the semi-final. However, Munster would have been hoping that they could top Conference 'B' in order to avoid another meeting with Leinster in the semis. They now sit five points behind Edinburgh.
They face Connacht next week, with Leinster taking on Ulster.
