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Team Named | Munster Side To Face Leinster In URC Semi-Final

May 12, 2023 11:54 am By The Editor

Peter O’Mahony will captain Munster against Leinster. Inpho

The Munster side has been named for Saturday’s URC semi-final against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

There are four personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that won away to Glasgow Warriors in last week’s quarter-final. Watch the new episode of Away Days in Glasgow on Access Munster here.

Keith Earls recovered from his groin injury earlier this week and makes his first start since his 200th Munster appearance against Sharks three weeks ago.

Craig Casey, Ben Healy and John Hodnett also come into the side with Tadhg Beirne moving into the second row as Jack Crowley starts at inside centre.

Captain Peter O’Mahony (elbow) and Diarmuid Barron (shoulder) both came through training this week and are named in the starting XV.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Earls and Shane Daly on either flank.

Casey and Healy start in the half-backs with Crowley and Antoine Frisch forming the centre partnership.

Jeremy Loughman, Barron and Stephen Archer pack down in an unchanged front row.

Jean Kleyn and Beirne start in the engine room with O’Mahony, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completing the side.

Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin and Rory Scannell join the squad as replacements.

In player news, Munster Rugby can confirm that scrum-half Neil Cronin has signed a contract extension until the end of January 2024.

Cronin has made 37 Munster appearances since making his debut for the province as a Garryowen player against Leinster on St Stephen’s Day in 2014.

He signed his first contract with Munster in 2018 after continuing to impress with Garryowen in the AIL.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.

Press Pass

Hear from Forwards Coach Andi Kyriacou and Stephen Archer ahead of the game.

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Report

Report | Munster Win Thrilling Semi-Final Against Leinster

May 13, 2023 8:53 pm By The Editor

Munster players celebrate at the final whistle. Inpho

Munster will face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday week in the URC final after an epic semi-final victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

A massive travelling contingent cheered Munster to the victory as Player of the Match Jack Crowley kicked the match-winning drop-goal on 77 minutes to secure a famous victory.

Joe McCarthy’s 62nd-minute try looked to have secured Leinster the victory but Munster attacked brilliantly from their own try-line with two minutes to go and got in position for Craig Casey to pass for Crowley to nervelessly slot over the match-winner.

Tadhg Beirne scored the only Munster try as the Leinster defence stood up superbly throughout but Crowley had the final say to secure a place in the final.

There was an early stoppage as Will Connors was treated for an injury with Josh van der Flier coming on after one minute of action.

Munster were penalised for a high tackle and Harry Byrne kicked Leinster into a 3-0 lead.

Diarmuid Barron won a breakdown penalty to get Munster into Leinster territory with the host then penalised defending the Munster maul.

Healy kicked to the corner and Munster attacked inside the Leinster 22 but the ball was dislodged from Jeremy Loughman in contact and the chance was gone.

When Jack Conan was penalised as he looked to steal the ball for Leinster, Healy stepped up to make it 3-3 on 10 minutes with an excellent long-range penalty.

Ryan Baird won the restart for Leinster and it was their turn to attack but Shane Daly and Jack Crowley tackled Jimmy O’Brien into touch.

Big Munster defence forced a knock-on before Ryan Baird looked to be in for the first Leinster try out of nothing on 19 minutes. Baird picked up a loose ball in midfield off a Munster garryowen and raced clear to score in the right corner but the try was ruled out by the TMO after a Tommy O’Brien knock-on in the build-up.

Munster were playing all the rugby and a tackle off the ball gave Healy another opportunity and his second penalty on 24 minutes gave Munster a 6-3 lead.

Leinster attacked off the restart again after winning the kicking battle but more brilliant Munster defence forced another knock-on.

Munster had two great chances to score in the right corner but the Leinster defence came up trumps on both occasions.

First, Max Deegan came up with a huge steal as Munster looked to maul over. Then the ball was ripped from Beirne yards from the line minutes later.

Leinster made us pay with the first try just before half-time as Robbie Henshaw offloaded for Jason Jenkins to score under the posts.

Byrne converted to make it 10-6 at the break.

Munster started the second half with real intent and Peter O’Mahony made a break to get Munster into the 22 but Craig Casey’s pass bounced into touch.

Great hands from Stephen Archer got Munster back on the front foot but the tighthead then spilled in contact to give Leinster the scrum 10 metres from their own line.

Munster kept attacking and after turning down another shot at goal, Tadhg Beirne was heaved over from close range to a huge roar from the travelling fans.

Crowley converted to make it 13-10 after 46 minutes.

A massive goal-line stand from Munster kept Leinster out before going up the other end and nearly getting in for a score of their own.

We turned down another shot at goal on 56 minutes to go for the corner but Roman Salanoa knocked on and Leinster again made us pay.

This time it was Joe McCarthy scoring from close range on 63 minutes with Ciaran Frawley unable to add the conversion as Leinster led 15-13.

Leinster won a scrum penalty on 74 minutes and it looked like they would see out the game in Munster’s 22 but we managed to win it back and work the ball downfield for the dream finish.

URC Semi-Final Round-Up

Munster will face Stormers in Cape Town in the URC final on Saturday, May 27, at 5.30pm.

Jean Kleyn departed for a HIA.

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Ben Healy (blood, Rory Scannell, 31), Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, 50), Diarmuid Barron (Niall Scannell, 50), Stephen Archer (Roman Salanoa, 50); Jean Kleyn (HIA, Fineen Wycherley, 45), Tadhg Beirne (Alex Kendellen, 70); Peter O’Mahony (C) (Jack O’Donoghue, 50), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.