{"id":25662,"date":"2022-04-02T17:13:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T21:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25662"},"modified":"2022-04-03T10:17:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T14:17:29","slug":"leinster-defeat-munster-to-go-ten-clear-at-the-top-of-the-urc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25662","title":{"rendered":"Leinster Defeat Munster To Go Ten Clear At The Top Of The URC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien snatched one of Leinster’s four tries (INPHO\/Evan Treacy)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leinster outscored Munster by four tries to one to earn a 34-19 bonus-point win at Thomond Park which extends their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship to 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Lowe scored twice after the interval and Jimmy O\u2019Brien also crossed in the second half to add to stand-in captain Garry Ringrose\u2019s 16th-minute effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Joey Carbery penalties meant Munster were only 14-12 behind at half-time, but they could only muster a Damian de Allende try after the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The home side lost powerful carrier Gavin Coombes to injury during the first half, and Leinster\u2019s strong bench helped them to see out the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo Cullen\u2019s men built a number of early phases before fly-half Byrne kicked them ahead. Carbery, who was tackled high by Jack Conan, landed a levelling 13th-minute penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smart Leinster move off a lineout had O\u2019Brien and Lowe stretching their legs. The pack pounded away before Byrne swung a pass wide for Ringrose to go over unopposed in the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the conversion missed, Carbery punished a second high tackle to close the gap to 8-6, before then cancelling out a Byrne effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbery duly nudged Munster in front with a 36th-minute place-kick, only for Leinster to force a late turnover and set up Byrne to boot them back in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, with Caelan Doris becoming more prominent, Leinster went up a gear on the restart as Byrne and Robbie Henshaw sent Lowe reaching over for an unconverted 47th-minute try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fineen Wycherley\u2019s late hit on Josh van der Flier soon allowed Byrne to widen the margin to 22-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead was extended further after some very good hands in midfield \u2013 particularly from Henshaw \u2013 freed up space for the lively O\u2019Brien to get past Conor Murray and finish smartly. Byrne added the conversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craig Casey\u2019s introduction sparked Munster as they looked for a response, the scrum-half going close from a quick tap before fellow replacement Ben Healy released De Allende for the line. The home crowd erupted and Carbery converted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was game on again with Healy at fly-half and Carbery moved to full-back, but Leinster coolly wrapped up the result when Byrne\u2019s scooped pass sent Lowe over in the corner with seven minutes remaining.<\/p>\n

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