Munster Show True Grit

Munster left their indifferent pre-season form behind them to record an impressive 23-18 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield

And in the course of that victory they produced some sparkling rugby and outstanding defence particularly at the end when the home side came looking for the winning score.

The sides were all square at the break and Munster re-started brightly with Paddy Butler and Damien Varley both making the hard yards before Edinburgh were penalised for Keatley to kick his side in front after two minutes.

Four minutes later when offered a kickable penalty Edinburgh went for the corner but got little change from the Munster defence so when offered another penalty shortly after they gave it to Laidlaw who levelled .

Then the try of the night for Luke O’Dea after Munster had taken a lineout moved it wide for James Downey to deliver a sublime off-load for O’Dea running a smashing line to race in under the posts.

Munster maintained the pressure and probably deserved more off a 57^th minute five metre scrum than the penalty that Keatley kicked when O’Dea was stopped short and Edinburgh infringed.

There was more than a hint of a forward pass for Tim Visser to score his third try in the corner with six minutes to go, Laidlaw missed the conversion, Edinburgh laid siege but Munster showed true grit to resist and emerge worthy winners.

Munster: D Hurley (S Deasy); D Howlett capt., C Laulala (I Dineen 65 min) J Downey, L O’Dea; I Keatley, D Williams (P Stringer 72 min); W du Preez ( D Kilcoyne 55 min), D Varley (M Sherry 47 min), BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan, B Holland; P Butler ( D Foley 65 min), S Dougall (B O’Mahony 71 min), J Coughlan.

Edinburgh Rugby. G Tonks; L Jones, N De Luca, B Atiga, T Visser; G Laidlaw capt, R Rees; J Yapp, R Ford, W Nel; G Gilchrist, S Cox; D Denton, R Rennie, S McInally. Replacements: A Titterrell, A Jacobsen, G Cross, P Parker, D Basilaia, C Leck, G Hunter, J Houston

Referee: Leighhton Hodges (WRU).