Mighty Munster sweep Gloucester aside at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Munster 31 Gloucester 3 

Cork rugby fans were treated to a pre-Christmas stocking filler on Saturday evening as Munster got the job done in the final quarter to ensure they left their Champions Cup tie at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with the bonus point they craved.

In the first European game on Leeside in 23 years, with the last one being a 64-0 hammering of Viadana in December 2002 at Musgrave Park, Clayton McMillan’s charges were guilty of some fundamental errors for the first hour but once Gloucester tired late on they opened up to secure three tries in the final twelve minutes.

Gloucester full back George Barton utilised the strong wind at his back to land a long-distance penalty after two minutes down at the Blackrock End to give the visitors the lead, as Gloucester had the better of the early exchanges.

Munster did not breach the Gloucester 22 until the 19th minute and that chance went a-begging, but two minutes later they opened their account when Mike Haley fortuitously regathered his own kick through, after a ricochet, and when he was hauled down 10 yards from the tryline he had the composure to pop the ball to the supporting Dan Kelly, who just about reached the line to score.

Gloucester prop Jamal Ford-Robinson was sinbinned in the 32nd minute when his shoulder made contact with the head of Jack Crowley in a clumsy clearout and from the resultant penalty attempt we saw how strong the wind was when Crowley’s attempt at the posts drifted wide.

Munster almost went the length of the pitch with the last play of the half, with some slick rugby, but they got whiteline fever at the wrong moment and got held up over the line, as they led just 7-3 at half time.

Munster were extremely sloppy at the start of the second half but, after the lively Ben O’Connor had forced a turnover with a brilliant kick chase, they struck for try number two, which arrived in the 50th minute when a superb Alex Nankivell offload found Haley and he had the strength to force his way over the tryline.

The frustration was starting to kick in down the park but in the 67th minute some great anticipation saw Craig Casey pounce onto a bouncing ball and he fed the supporting Haley who was hauled down just short, but Caio James was binned for cynical play and Munster had an attacking penalty 5m out.

From the resultant tap penalty Niall Scannell played the ball right to Gavin Coombes, who quickly popped it back to the onrushing Ruadhán Quinn who smashed his way over.

The bonus point was secured in the 73rd minute when Nankivell gave a delicious behind-the-back pass to centre partner Tom Farrell, who glided over to score.

The Gloucester resilience had now snapped like a wet Christmas cracker and in the 76th minute a loose Gloucester lineout went straight to Tadhg Beirne and the Munster captain had the simple task of diving over to score to ensure the huge Cork crowd went home happy.

Scorers for Munster: J Crowley (3 cons), D Kelly, M Haley, R Quinn, T Farrell, T Beirne (1 try each). 

Gloucester: G Barton (1 pen). 

MUNSTER: M Haley; S Daly, D Kelly, A Nankivell, B O'Connor; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, M Ala’alatoa; J Kleyn, T Beirne (c); T Ahern, J O’Donoghue, G Coombes.

Subs: T Farrell for D Kelly (53), D Barron, J Wycherley, E Edogbo and R Quinn for M Milne, N Scannell, J Kleyn and J O’Donoghue (61), C Bartley for M Ala’alatoa (69), P Patterson for C Casey (70), JJ Hanrahan for M Haley (77).

GLOUCESTER: G Barton; J Hathaway, W Knight, M Knight, R Russell; C Atkinson, M Austin; D Bleuler, J Innard, J Ford-Robinson; C Jordan, A Clark (capt); J Basham, H Taylor, J Clement.

Subs: A Fasogbon for J Basham (39), J Basham for A Fasogbon (41), A Fasogbon for J Ford-Robinson (52), D Eite, C James and R Price for A Clark, J Clement and M Austin (63), K Freeman-Price and H Bokenham for J Innard and C Jordan (69).

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)