Following a 34-28 victory for Edinburgh over Munster, here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship encounter at Virgin Media Park on Friday.
The top line
Matt Currie earned the plaudits after his hat-trick helped Edinburgh to an excellent victory over Munster but, make no mistake, this was all about the visitors’ forward effort.
The Irish province have been on a good run in the URC recently and their start hinted at a team in form. The visitors may have gone ahead through Ross Thompson’s penalty but Ian Costello’s men deserved the lead given to them by Alex Nankivell’s try.
Nankivell would be in the action throughout the match but he could ultimately have no control over the scrum, which would be the key weapon for Edinburgh. With their front-row dominating, the Scots effectively put the game to bed at the break through Currie’s first-half brace and further tries via Thompson and Magnus Bradbury.
Currie then went over for his hat-trick in the second period, ending Munster’s chances of making a comeback. Nankivell crossed the whitewash for a second time while Ben O’Connor and Sean O’Brien also touched down to rescue two bonus points, but it was a disappointing evening for the hosts.
No scrum…
…No win, as the saying goes, and it could not be more pertinent than during this encounter. Munster actually began the game well, creating a couple of chances before Nankivell managed to touch down after 13 minutes, but the pressure exerted duly told as the hosts were regularly marched backwards in the set-piece.
The home side’s two props, Josh Wycherley and John Ryan, are usually very good scrummagers, but they were absolutely hammered by the visiting duo, Boan Venter and Paul Hill. The latter was an age-grade star in England but that talent did not translate into the professional game. However, at the age of 29, he looks to be entering his prime.
Not only did Hill and his front-row colleagues win penalties but that platform created Munster errors, and therefore opportunities for Edinburgh in other areas of the game. Under pressure, the hosts cracked and the visiting backs enjoyed ripping through the Munster defence.
With World Rugby seemingly trying to depower the scrum, the Scotsmen showed the value of the set-piece. Not only was it a way of gaining territory and possession but it also hugely benefited their attacking game. The global governing body should take note.
Back-row ballast
It was always likely to be a strength of the Scottish outfit going into this game and even when the talented Luke Crosbie was forced off early on, they were able to bring on the outstanding Hamish Watson. The 33-year-old, alongside Ben Muncaster and Magnus Bradbury, were absolutely superb as they made easy metres in contact.
They were no doubt helped by the aforementioned front five but Muncaster, Bradbury and Watson were utterly irrepressible in Cork. The former unfortunately suffered an injury in January which put pay to his Six Nations hopes, but now that he is back fit, he should put himself in the Test frame sooner rather than later.
There is plenty of competition in that Scotland loose trio but the 23-year-old is definitely worth a look if he can maintain this form. Athletic and powerful, the versatile back-rower is a dynamic carrier, while he is also a menace without the ball.
Nankivell’s return
Injury has limited the game time of the talented Kiwi this season but Munster will be delighted to have him back after being without the centre for the past two months. It was a mixed display in the first half, with a good opening 20 minutes followed by a disappointing second quarter – rather mirroring the team itself.
That changed after the interval. Even though Edinburgh continued to control matters for much of the second period, Nankivell did everything in his power to turn it around. He touched down for a second time, a score which typified his abrasiveness in contact, while he also earned a couple of turnovers at the breakdown. It was a promising return from the 28-year-old and he will no doubt play a key role in the run-in.
Clayton McMillan
It would have been early morning when this game kicked off in New Zealand and the current Chiefs boss would have been an interested observer after agreeing a deal to become Munster’s new head coach from the start of the 2025/26 season. On this evidence, however, he has his work cut out to turn the Irish province back into European powerhouses.
Although Munster were without their Irish stars and have a lengthy injury list, Edinburgh have also been affected by the Six Nations. Nankivell may have impressed but he was pretty much the only player from the hosts to do so. That will hardly be news to McMillan either, who knows the centre incredibly well given their time working together at the Chiefs.
The Irishmen have enjoyed a good run recently but this was a rather disappointing step backwards, despite the late comeback which earned two bonus-points. That could well prove crucial come the end of the season, but McMillan’s first impression since accepting the role wouldn’t have been positive.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/munster-v-edinburgh-five-takeaways-as-scotsmen-show-world-rugby-the-value-of-the-scrum-while-clayton-mcmillan-has-work-cut-out
