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Munster player ratings vs Scarlets | 2024/25 URC
By Ian Cameron
Munster player ratings: After a frankly poor showing in the first forty minutes, the Munster thumped the Scarlets 29-8 in a scrappy URC encounter in Limerick.
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Here’s how each player fared in our Munster player ratings:
1. Josh Wycherley – 8
Strong in the set-piece against 124kg Archer Holz. Showed an explosive edge in the loose, impressive given he’s spent four months on the sideline.
2. Diarmuid Barron – 5
Munster’s lineout looked more like a circus act than a reliable platform, and though he threw himself into the loose exchanges with over 20 individual carries to his name, the malfunctioning set-piece overshadowed it all.
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3. Oli Jager – 7.5
Used all of his 127kg frame to anchor the scrum with composure. A reliable presence whenever the heat was turned up by Scarlets’ front row.
4. Thomas Ahern – 8
About the only thing in Munster lineout that worked. Carried with intent and unlucky to have his 12th-minute try scrubbed off. An Ireland cap is overdue.
5. Fineen Wycherley – 5
Got ignominiously stripped of the ball with the Scarlets beckoning in the 8th minute and played a central role in Munster’s appalling lineout. A game to forget for the second row.
6. Jack O’Donoghue – 5
Scarlets got to him at the lineout and came off second-best in a number of collisions.
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7. Alex Kendellen – 7.5
One of a number of Munster players who struggled to match the Scarlets at the breakdown in the first half. Was to the fore in Munster’s second-half rear guard movement, scoring in the 51st minute to put daylight between the home side and the visitors.
8. Gavin Coombes – 8
After a quiet first-half he roared into life in the second. Set the tone for Munster’s second forty after crashing over the line in the 44th minute and collected a second in the 63rd minute. So powerful in contact, making the hard yards count.
9. Ethan Coughlan – 5
Decent service and box kicks from the 22-year-old. Looked good in patches, even if the Scarlets generally got the better of the kick tennis. Munster looked significantly better with Paddy Patterson on the field.
10. Billy Burns – 6
A lot of Jonny Wilkinson-style pop and reset passes but struggled to ignite Munster’s attack. Drifted in and out of the contest, failing to truly take the game by the scruff of the neck.
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11. Diarmuid Kilgallen – 5
Looked lively in open space during his short spell on the pitch. Went off after 16 minutes of action.
12. Rory Scannell – 6
Reliable in the midfield, distributing with confidence and stepping up with crucial tackles. The battled-hardened veteran provided calm leadership when the contest heated up.
13. Tom Farrell – 8
Slick handling and footwork kept Scarlets guessing for Shay McCarthy’s try. Teamed effectively with Scannell in shutting down the Scarlets and made plenty of metres after contact. Well deserving of his late.
14. Shane Daly – 5
Showed his usual spark with pace and eagerness on the wing, mixing attacking flair with solid defensive reads. However, a butter-fingered spill cost him a late try, and a clumsy tackle at the death earned him a yellow card – overshadowing the good bits in an otherwise lively outing.
15. Ben O’Connor – 7.5
The former age-grade GAA star proved a safe pair of hands at the back, made smart decisions in counter-attack. Showed willingness to join the line and exploit gaps, beating four defenders.
Replacements
16. Niall Scannell – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
17. Kieran Ryan – 5
Didn’t add a great deal at scrum time, an area that Munster had there-to-fore held the upper hand in.
18. John Ryan – 5
As with his namesake, Munster’s scrum started to creak after the veteran came on.
19. Brian Gleeson – 7
Brought bulk and power off the bench, ensuring Munster lost no edge. Unlucky not to have a try awarded, Coombes getting the reward twenty seconds later.
20. John Hodnett – 6.5
Busy around the breakdown and made a decent impact.
21. Paddy Patterson – 7.5
Did brilliantly to very nearly scuff Scarlet’s wonder try and may well have done so if it wasn’t for a lack of video evidence.
22. Tony Butler – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
23. Shay McCarthy – 8
Brought fresh impetus on the wing after coming on after 20 minutes. Made his mark with a brilliantly taken try and was bright after that.
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