Warriors put down big marker in Limerick
MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors turned in a ruthless five-try performance to claim a 38-26 bonus-point United Rugby Championship win over Munster at Thomond Park.
Glasgow outplayed one of their main play-off rivals to take a giant leap towards a home quarter-final.
The Scots punished a misfiring Munster to lead 28-0 at half-time, as Fraser Brown’s early maul try was added to by captain Stafford McDowall, Domingo Miotti and Cole Forbes.
A drop goal from 18-point fly-half Miotti was followed by quickfire tries from Munster’s Gavin Coombes and Craig Casey – only for Tongan international Sione Vailanu to crash over on the hour mark.
Although Munster’s five-match winning run in the league came to an end, replacements Josh Wycherley and Calvin Nash both touched downed for a late bonus point.
It was fifth hosting fourth in Limerick, Glasgow building some solid early foundations through their strong set-piece and clever kicking game.
Hooker Brown, one of nine returning Scotland internationals, was driven over from a fifth-minute lineout, with Miotti converting. Munster number eight Coombes was held up just minutes later.
Glasgow doubled their lead to 14-0 in the 24th minute, centre McDowall using Brown’s reverse pass to race through and score despite Joey Carbery and Nash’s attempts to hold him up.
Miotti then found a gap between Paddy Patterson and Diarmuid Barron to make it 21-0. A costly knock-on prevented Munster from opening their account.
Indeed, Franco Smith’s men bounced into the second half on the back of Forbes’ brilliant bonus-point score. Influential Argentinian Miotti extended their lead with his 44th-minute drop goal.
Belatedly awaking from their slumber, a purposeful 52nd-minute Munster maul resulted in Coombes wrestling his way over.
Carbery converted and also added the extras to Casey’s follow-up effort, the scrum-half darting over from a ruck.
Nonetheless, when Glasgow got back into scoring range, Jamie Dobie fought for every inch in a carry before number eight Vailanu powered over for Miotti to convert.
Prop Wycherley replied in the 70th minute after Coombes was stopped short. A long pass from Casey released Nash for the right corner, but it was too little, too late from Munster.
Player of the Match
For his decisive try and big bally-carrying display, Sione Vailanu was the obvious choice but JP du Preez and Scott Cummings also excelled in the engine room for Glasgow. Energetic winger Calvin Nash was the pick of Munster’s players, lifting the home crowd with his incisive running and taking his late try well.
Play of the Match
Glasgow cut through for a superb team try on the stroke of half-time. Ollie Smith’s skip pass sparked a quick-witted move at close quarters and Munster’s defence gave way again. Centres Stafford McDowall and Sam Johnson’s brilliant offloads out of tackles set up Ali Price to give Forbes a straightforward run in from the left wing.
The scorers
For Munster
Tries: Coombes, Casey, Wycherley, Nash
Cons: Carbery 3
For Glasgow Warriors
Tries: Brown, McDowall, Miotti, Forbes, Vailanu
Cons: Miotti 5
DG: Miotti
Teams
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jack Crowley, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Roman Salanoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Rudolf Snyman, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Simon Zebo.
Glasgow: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 Stafford McDowall (captain), 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Ali Price, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Jean-Pierre du Preez, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Lewis Bean, 20 Alex Samuel, 21 Thomas Gordon, 22 George Horne, 23 Tom Jordan.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Jonny Erskine (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
