Bok concern as Munster stun Glasgow

MATCH REPORT: Munster claimed a place in the United Rugby Championship semifinals after beating Glasgow Warriors 14-5 at Scotstoun.

The result means Munster will take on fellow Irish side Leinster in the semifinals.

It will certainly be a big challenge for Munster, who could be without the services of Springbok lock Rudolf Snyman and Ireland duo captain Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray.

The Springbok lock Snyman left the field in the 20th minute with a head knock and did not return after he failed the Head Injury Assessment (HIA). Murray followed five minutes later.

Captain O’Mahony’s outing was cut short due to an arm injury

For Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors,  it was their first defeat of the season at home.

Glasgow Warriors started well and dominated possession and territory over the 80 minutes but their hopes of reaching a second final this season were undone in a five-minute spell.

Warriors could not make their early pressure count and Malakai Fekitoa crossed in the 22nd minute in Munster’s first attack of the game.

Tom Jordan was sent off three minutes later for his challenge on Conor Murray on the touchline and Antoine Frisch soon went over to increase Munster’s lead further.

Kyle Steyn gave Glasgow hope with a 66th-minute try but the 14 men could not build on their opening score.

The first quarter of the game offered little indication of the final outcome.

Warriors had some promising line breaks from Sione Tuipulotu and Steyn in particular but the final pass was missing.

Munster survived some sustained pressure after the Warriors kicked a penalty into the corner before Jack Dempsey was later held up on the line.

Munster’s first meaningful foray into the Glasgow 22 resulted in Fekitoa spinning out of Steyn’s tackle and touching down.

Jordan saw red after the officials studied footage of his dangerous tackle and the Irish side quickly used their numerical advantage, winning a penalty and then working the ball to Frisch to cross.

Jack Crowley added his second conversion of the game to give Munster a 14-point half-time lead which might have been greater had Franco Smith’s side not stood firm under some relentless late first-half pressure.

Warriors restarted the game on the front foot and won a couple of penalties deep in Munster territory which allowed them to pile on the pressure but Richie Gray’s spillage and some stubborn defending kept the visitors’ clean sheet intact.

Glasgow regained the ascendancy after a brief respite for Munster and finally made their pressure count in the 66th minute when substitute Huw Jones set up Steyn to go over in the corner.

Stafford McDowall missed the conversion to leave the Warriors needing two scores and Munster spent the remainder of the game deep in home territory.

All comeback hopes evaporated when Tuipulotu was yellow-carded following a head-on challenge which forced Fekitoa off with a head knock.

Warriors will now focus on preparing for the European Challenge Cup final against Toulon in Dublin on May 19.

Player of the Match

Gavin Coombes typified the dogged and physically resolute approach that saw Munster over the line. The number eight made 20 tackles and also boasted 11 successful carries to help frustrate the Warriors.

Play of the Match

The normally free-scoring Warriors too often lacked the killer pass they needed to get on top or give themselves hopes of a comeback earlier on. The exception was their only try when Stafford McDowall fired a pass to Huw Jones which tempted Tadhg Beirne out of position in a failed attempt to intercept. Jones made the most of the gap to set up Steyn.

The scorers:

For Glasgow Warriors:
Try: Steyn

For Munster:
Tries: Fekitoa, Frisch
Cons: Crowley 2

Yellow card: Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, 75 – head-to-head collision)

Red card: Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors, 25 – dangerous and reckless no-arms tackle)

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (Captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Ali Price, 23 Huw Jones

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Peter O’Mahony (Captain), 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Alex Kendellen

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales); Manuel Bottino (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Source: URC