PRO12 Season So Far

As Munster return to Guinness PRO12 action against Leinster at Thomond Park this Sunday – KO 5.15pm – we review the league season to date with Munster currently placed third on the PRO12 table after recording 6 wins in the opening 9 rounds.

A Round 1 win at home to Treviso in Irish Independent Park was followed with an impressive away win against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium where the men in red ended Ospreys’ 14 match unbeaten run on home soil with a last minute CJ Stander try and Ian Keatley’s subsequent conversion .

Munster then avenged last season’s PRO12 Final defeat by taking the spoils against reigning champions Glasgow Warriors in Limerick and then made it four from four a fortnight later when securing their first bonus point win of the season, running four tries past Cardiff Blues in Cork.

Heading to Scarlets as table toppers in Round 5, a lack of discipline with just minutes to play would cost Munster both the win and top spot on the table – Steve Shingler kicking a monster penalty with the clock deep in the red to end Munster’s winning streak. Foley’s charges would however bounce back in style, recording a bonus point win over Ulster in their first interprovincial of the season. In a game that yielded a total of nine tries for the Thomond Park faithful, the Munster-men did well in withstanding a late Ulster onslaught to secure a 32-28 victory.

Munster’s last win of their current PRO12 campaign came in Round 7 where they played out a hard fought 2 point victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield. Although, it might well have been the hosts who took victory after loose play saw Munster hold on for dear life with over 80 minutes played. A late intercept handed the advantage to the Scottish side before CJ Stander excelled with a charge-down as Edinburgh attempted to snatch victory with a last gasp drop-goal.

Since then, the southern province have suffered consecutive defeats in Rounds 8 and 9, to Connacht and Newport-Gwent Dragons respectively. A lack of intensity and missed tackles at Thomond Park would cost Munster dearly in the former, while in the in the latter, a lack of precision when opportunities presented themselves would rue their chances at a hostile and imposing Rodney Parade.

With 6 wins, 3 losses, 2 try bonus points and 2 losing bonus points, Munster currently lie third on the PRO12 table.

This Sunday’s opponents, and old rivals, Leinster lie just one place and one league point behind their southern counterparts, however the Blues do have a game in hand following the recent postponement of their game away to Glasgow Warriors in Round 9.

The rivalries that go hand-in-hand with this fixture aside, the fact that both teams enter this weekend’s encounter wounded by back-to-back European defeats will only add to the intensity and excitement of this eagerly anticipated fixture.

Munster V Leinster, Guinness PRO12 Round 10, Sunday December 27^th at Thomond Park – KO 5.15pm.

Looking for the perfect last minute Christmas present or the ideal activity with family and friends over the festive period? Book your tickets Munster v Leinster now.

• Adults from €;20
• Students from €;10
• Families from €;60 (2 adults & 2 juniors – additional junior tickets can be added from €;10 each by calling 021 4323737)

Purchase tickets online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.

Hospitality
All Executive Boxes are sold out for this game.

Limited places now remain in the Thomond Suite. Tomorrow (December 22^nd) is the closing date for Thomond Suite Bookings. Package includes:

• Drinks reception on arrival
• Three course meal with tea/coffee
• Munster Rugby corporate gift
• Pre-match entertainment with comedian Karl Spain
• Cat A match ticket in the East Stand

€;185pp or tables of 10 for €;1750. For more information or to book please contact Anthony Morrissey on 087-6202530 or e-mail anthonymorrissey@munsterrugby.ie.