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Munster reach URC semi-finals after early red card for Glasgow

By PA
Craig Casey celebrates for Munster during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Munster at Scotstoun Stadium, on May 06, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Munster reached the BKT United Rugby Championship semi-finals after Tom Jordan’s first-half red card proved costly for Glasgow.

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Graham Rowntree’s side inflicted Warriors’ first home defeat of the season as a 14-5 victory set up an encounter with table-toppers Leinster at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next Saturday.

The home side 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.

Jordan was sent off three minutes later after smashing his shoulder into the face of 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.

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

The visitors continued to defend well despite losing captain Peter O’Mahony early on to an arm injury and lock RG Snyman to a head injury. Murray would soon go off as a result of Jordan’s challenge.

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.

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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 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.

 

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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
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