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Munster sink Stormers in Limerick in final rematch
By PA
Academy lock Edwin Edogbo’s second try in five starts steered Munster to a hard-earned 10-3 win over the Stormers at a rain-soaked Thomond Park.
Ireland stars Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray all returned in what was a repeat of last May’s United Rugby Championship final.
However, the poor weather conditions made for a cagey, defence-dominated contest, with Edogbo’s try just before half-time punishing a yellow card for Stormers captain Neethling Fouche.
Jack Crowley converted, adding to his earlier penalty, for a 10-0 lead and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s 45th-minute penalty proved to be the South Africans’ only score.
Despite the greasy ball, Munster exerted enough control to return to winning ways. The Stormers, though, have lost three URC games in a row for the first time.
John Dobson’s side still have to welcome back their Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks but there were starts for international hooker Joseph Dweba and fit-again centre Feinberg-Mngomezulu in Limerick.
Sti Sithole jumped on turnover ball to spoil Munster’s first maul attempt and a promising break by Evan Roos was halted by a Willie Engelbrecht knock-on.
O’Mahony pinched a lineout back on Munster’s side and, when play moved infield, Crowley slotted over a 14th-minute penalty for the opening score.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed a long-range penalty before the Stormers’ maul defence soon came up trumps again, with Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon getting the plaudits.
Munster failed to capitalise on breaks from Alex Nankivell and Shane Daly while Leolin Zas’ dangerous run and kick chase was covered by Daly and Crowley.
The hosts crucially dominated play just before the interval and the Stormers’ third successive maul penalty, near their own line, landed Fouche in the bin.
The 20-year-old Edogbo crashed over from a ruck at the end of eight battering phases. Crowley converted with the final kick of the half.
Ruben van Heerden’s lineout steal early on the resumption, coupled with some improved carrying from his team-mates, set up Feinberg-Mngomezulu to split the posts from close range.
Veteran prop Stephen Archer then came on for his 268th Munster appearance, equalling Donncha O’Callaghan’s record as their most-capped player of all-time.
An Engelbrecht turnover penalty thwarted a promising Munster spell while Roos was held up twice amid a series of scrum penalties where the Stormers really got on top.
Crowley and Murray’s tactical kicking pinned the opposition back late on and even when Angelo Davids had some rare space to attack, Nankivell and Crowley swiftly slammed the door shut.
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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