Munster keep play-off hopes alive

 

The visitors took a narrow 10-3 lead into the break thanks to Duncan Casey's converted try and Ian Keatley's penalty after Tom Heathcote had put the hosts ahead.

 

Yet Munster began to exert their dominance through the rolling maul after the restart, with CJ Stander going over before Edinburgh saw Tim Visser sent to the bin.

 

Anthony Foley's side capitalised in ruthless fashion as Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Keith Earls all touched down in quick succession to secure a crucial bonus point, with rivals Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors and Ulster having already all done the same.

 

Edinburgh prevented further damage but were powerless to stop Munster gaining emphatic revenge for a 14-13 defeat at Thomond Park in Round One, as the visitors moved up to second in the table.

 

Edinburgh were dealt a blow before the game as Sam Hidalgo-Clyne withdrew through injury, with Nathan Fowles coming into the No.9 jersey.

 

An early surge into the Munster 22 gave Edinburgh a penalty in front of the posts, with flyhalf Heathcote kicking his miscued attempt narrowly over to give his side a 3-0 lead.

 

Munster began to exert their dominance at the breakdown but were unable to gain an advantage at the set piece, with Hamish Watson stealing a lineout and charging forward before the ball was lost forward.

 

Edinburgh No.8 David Denton then suffered a blow and went off for a concussion test and was replaced by Tomas Leonardi, with Roddy Grant moving into Denton's position.

 

Munster's set-piece woes continued as Tommy O'Donnell was penalised for joining a maul from an offside position before the visitors conceded another scrum penalty.

 

But O'Donnell quickly made amends as he stole the ball and burst clear, with Edinburgh ultimately slowing down the ball illegally as Ian Keatley levelled the game at 3-3 in the 20th minute.

 

Edinburgh continually caused Munster and particularly BJ Botha problems in the scrum but failed to press home their advantage as the visitors responded with a series of impressive rolling mauls.

 

And the hosts were duly punished by Munster as they secured a five-metre lineout following Edinburgh indiscipline and Casey controlled the maul adeptly to dot down, with Keatley adding the extras to make it 10-3 on 33 minutes.

 

Edinburgh made a similarly scrappy start to the second half, with only resolute defence from Watson in the tackle preventing Munster from scoring a second try.

 

Yet it proved to be just a stay of execution as Munster kicked a penalty to the corner and set up another dominant maul for Stander to touch down to make it 15-3 on 53 minutes.

 

Keatley missed the extras but Munster now had Edinburgh firmly on the back foot as Visser was sent to the bin for illegally slowing the ball down in his 22.

 

And Munster soon had a third try as Murray peeled off the back of yet another maul to score in the corner, with Keatley landing an impressive conversion.

 

The visitors continued to exploit their man advantage as Zebo kicked ahead, with the wing eventually judged by the TMO to have just touched down before the ball rolled dead.

 

That try secured a vital bonus point for the hosts and they had a fifth try moments later when Earls crossed over, with Keatley making no mistake this time as Munster led 34-3 on 65 minutes.

 

Munster probed but could not find a sixth as Edinburgh held firm but it was too little too late for Alan Solomons' side, who saw their chances of a top-six finish dented.

 

 

Pen: Heathcote

 

Tries: Casey, Stander, Murray, Zebo

Cons: Keatley 3

Pen: Keatley

 

 

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 David Denton, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Roddy Grant, 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford (captain), 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 John Andress, 19 Fraser Mckenzie, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Sam Beard, 23 Tom Brown.

 

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Billy Holland, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 James Cronin, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.

 

Referee: Ian Davies 

Assistant referees: Neil Paterson, Andy Macmenemy 

TMO: Iain Ramage