{"id":25151,"date":"2022-02-18T17:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T22:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25151"},"modified":"2022-02-19T09:35:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-19T14:35:56","slug":"zebo-in-hat-trick-heaven-as-munster-beat-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25151","title":{"rendered":"Zebo In Hat-Trick Heaven As Munster Beat Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Munster’s Simon Zebo celebrates scoring on of three tries on Friday night (INPHO\/Dan Sheridan)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Simon Zebo stole the show with a hat-trick of tries in Munster\u2019s 34-20 United Rugby Championship win over Edinburgh at Thomond Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacement Henry Pyrgos\u2019 69th-minute score had the Scots still in the hunt, but Zebo tiptoed along the left touchline to brilliantly seal the bonus-point victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Converted scores from Fineen Wycherley and Zebo had Munster leading 20-10 at the break, with the Scots sandwiching in a 10-point spurt of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramiro Moyano\u2019s slick try saw Edinburgh recover from an early 13-point deficit, and Emiliano Boffelli\u2019s reliable right boot delivered 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Ben Healy booted 14 points for the home side \u2013 including two touchline kicks \u2013 and Zebo\u2019s finishing was equally impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young fly-half Healy knocked over a fifth-minute penalty and Edinburgh fell 10-0 behind in as many minutes. Second-row Wycherley powered over from a zippy Craig Casey pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Cloete\u2019s second turnover penalty was turned into three points by Healy, but Edinburgh hit back assuredly in the 23rd minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back from Scotland camp, Blair Kinghorn and captain Mark Bennett carved through to send the rapid Moyano over to the right of the posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Argentinian compatriot Boffelli added the extras, and he then closed the gap to three points with his opening penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster managed to score on the stroke of half-time, lovely hands from Chris Farrell and Healy releasing Zebo to cross from close range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healy\u2019s excellent conversion reopened the 10-point margin, before both sides blew chances on the restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another well-struck Boffelli penalty had Edinburgh just 20-13 in arrears, the play quickly swinging from one end to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edinburgh suffered a double blow on the hour mark, Mike Haley feeding Zebo for his second converted try before the influential Bennett went off injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foiling the visitors\u2019 attempts to respond, Wycherley stole a line-out and then Dave Kilcoyne, on his 200th Munster appearance, forced a knock-on from Boan Venter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wily Pyrgos showed his experience with a clever snipe in under the posts for Boffelli to convert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no denying it was Zebo\u2019s night, though, as Healy sent the Corkman squeezing past Moyano for the clinching score, converted with aplomb by the number 10.<\/p>\n

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