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Injury-hit Munster rally to limit Exeter to a five-point advantage

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Exeter will take a narrow lead to Limerick next weekend after edging out Munster 13-8 in a tense Heineken Champions Cup round-of-16 clash at Sandy Park. The Chiefs looked on their way to a sizeable victory after first-half tries by full-back Stuart Hogg and flanker Jacques Vermeulen put them ten points clear. But injury-hit Munster rallied after Exeter were reduced to 13 men for a quarter of the second period when wing Olly Woodburn and replacement prop Patrick Schickerling received yellow cards in rapid succession.

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Wing Shane Daly touched down for Munster, while fly-half Ben Healy kicked a penalty, but it was Hogg’s drop-goal from 45 metres out that could ultimately make a significant difference. Exeter, looking to win the European Cup for the second time in three seasons, will feel they should have put the game away before indiscipline hit them.

But Munster, twice European champions, displayed trademark grit and resilience to set up an intriguing second leg at Thomond Park. Exeter were without injured England internationals Jack Nowell, Ollie Devoto, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill, but welcomed back centre Henry Slade, prop Harry Williams and number eight Sam Simmonds to the starting line-up.

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Munster’s injury troubles saw skipper Peter O’Mahony and fly-half Joey Carbery sidelined, with Simon Zebo, Tadhg Beirne and Gavin Coombes also out, testing resources ahead of the team’s first European Cup meeting since 2019. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was among the crowd and he saw Munster immediately on the back-foot as Exeter hit them with a brilliant sixth-minute try.

Slade was prominent, but it was wing Tom O’Flaherty’s decisive angle of attack that unlocked Munster’s defence, and Hogg sprinted over to give the Chiefs a dream start. Exeter continued to dominate in terms of possession and territory, and they almost claimed a second try midway through the half when skipper Jack Yeandle almost burrowed his way over.

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The home side continued pressing, yet they had no further reward as a combination of poor handling and vigorous Munster tackling denied them a healthier advantage. But Exeter were finally rewarded two minutes before the interval as they made a temporary one-man advantage count. Munster replacement Jack O’Sullivan, who replaced number eight Alex Kendellen, was yellow-carded following a technical infringement and Vermeulen crashed over from close range for the Chiefs’ second try.

Simmonds missed the conversion, yet the 2020 European champions were full value for their lead, having dominated most areas. Exeter’s relentless approach continued immediately after the break and it was all hands to the pump for Munster in defence while their scrum came under increasing pressure. But the Chiefs were also their own enemies, conceding penalties in threatening positions and letting Munster off the hook.

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With Munster’s Ireland international scrum-half Conor Murray a growing influence, the visitors opened their account through a Healy penalty after 57 minutes. They were the only points of a tight third quarter, with Exeter then losing Woodburn, who was yellow-carded following an arm to the head of a Munster player, and Schickerling following foul play near his own line.

Exeter responded to that double setback superbly, though, when Hogg dropped a goal – the first of his career – from just inside Munster’s half and restored a ten-point gap. But it did not last long, as Munster broke upfield and Daly made the most of Exeter’s numerical disadvantage to touch down with twelve minutes left. Exeter defended magnificently with Woodburn and Schickerling off and they almost added a third try during the dying seconds, but Woodburn knocked on after making a clean break.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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