Munster thump 14-man Wasps
EURO CUP REPORT: Munster scored four tries on their way to a 35-14 victory over Wasps in Coventry.
In response, Wasps notched tries from Alfie Barbeary and Michael Le Bourgeois, but the 25th minute sending off of captain Brad Shields – while trailing 0-3 – was ultimately an insurmountable challenge for the English side.
Munster took the lead after seven minutes, with Wasps, who were forced into a number of late changes ahead of the match, committing an offside penalty inside their own 22, dispatched by Joey Carbery for the Irish province.
With 25 minutes played, the pivotal moment of the contest occurred. Wasps captain Brad Shields was adjudged to have committed a high tackle – referee Romain Poite showing the red card as two-time European Cup winners were reduced to 14-men.
Carbery added a further three points moments later, but it was the underhanded Englishmen that notched the first try of the afternoon– Alfie Barbeary the finisher of a flowing Wasps move.
Munster responded prior to the break with a try of their own. Keith Earls latched on to a Conor Murray chip, dotting down the bouncing ball.
On the brink of half-time, Wasps were reduced to 13-men, Dan Frost sent to the sin bin for going off his feet at the breakdown.
Munster took full advantage of the two-man difference in the opening salvos of the second period, fullback Patrick Campbell scoring within 120 seconds of the re-start for a try on debut.
Five minutes later a Wasps handling error opened the door for Munster to add a third try – Andrew Conway reacting to the loose ball, cruising to the whitewash unabated.
The bonus point try came with 55 minutes played, hooker Scott Buckley cleverly finishing a well-worked line-out – another debut try for a Munster player.
Despite the deficit – both in points and in men – Wasps responded just after the hour mark with a try of their own. Michael Le Bourgeois the scorer with an opportunist scamper through the Munster line.
Wasps now face the unenviable task of a trip to Toulouse to take on the defending European champions Stade Toulousain next Sunday, while Munster host Castres Olympique in Round Two.
The scorers
For Wasps:
Try: Barbeary, Le Bourgeois
Cons: Gopperth 2
For Munster:
Tries: Earls, Campbell, Conway, Buckley
Cons: Carbery 3
Pens: Carbery 3
Red card: Brad Shields (Wasps, 24)
Yellow card: Dan Frost (Wasps, 39)
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Josh Bassett, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Luke Mehson, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Sam Wolstenholme, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Tim Cardall, 4 Brad Shield (captain), 3 Biyi Alo, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Tom West.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Kieran Curren, 20 Gabriel Oghre, 21 Will Porter, 22 Tommy Mathews, 23 Cameron Anderson.
Munster: 15 Patrick Campbell, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Daniel Okeke, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Eoin O’Connor, 3 James French, 2 Scott Buckley, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Declan Moore, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 John Forde, 20 Conor Moloney, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Jonathan Wren.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baqué (France), Stephane Boyer (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Source: @ChampionsCup
