Munster vs Glasgow match report

Munster gave up a 10-point half time lead at Thomond Park, as their BKT United Rugby Championship season started with a disappointing 26-20 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.

The six-point loss brought up a sweep of defeats for the four Irish provinces, the first time that has happened on the opening weekend since 2009/10.

The Scottish side ground Munster down in the final quarter, as Clayton McMillan's strength in depth was exposed.

In particular, the province suffered at the scrum after the departure of new signing Kieran Brookes, who had dominated the Warriors pack on his competitive debut.

Ben O'Donovan also shined for the province at scrum-half, and they were good value for their 20-14 lead when the New Zealand-born player left the game on 58 minutes, after tries for Ben O'Connor and Michael Milne, with 10 points from the boot of JJ Hanrahan.

Ollie Smith and Nathan McBeth's tries had kept Glasgow in touch with Munster for the opening hour, but Franco Smith's side wore the province down with two tries in the final 15 minutes, as they defeated their bitter rivals at Thomond for the third time in a row.

Playing with a strong wind behind their backs in the opening half, Munster started brightly, and it led to a penalty, which Hanrahan kicked for an early 3-0 lead.

That early pressure led to a Glasgow yellow card, as centre Ollie Smith was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on after eight minutes, but a great scoring opportunity was wasted after a calamitous lineout saw Munster fail to get a jumper off the ground.

Fortunately, it didn't take long to make amends, as a wonderful 50:22 from Hanrahan set up another golden chance in the 22, and a lineout off the top saw Ben O'Donovan link up nicely with Sean O'Brien to suck in the defence, before quick hands sent O'Connor (below) in for a brilliant try, converted by Hanrahan for 10-0.

They were forced into a reshuffle when Mike Haley limped off injured, and Glasgow grew into the half as it wore on, with Ally Miller sent clear down the left wing, and breaks by George Horne getting them close to the Munster line, but some dogged defence forced turnovers each time.

Eventually, the visitors made their pressure count, as a series of penalties led to a Glasgow maul from five metres, and Dobie sniped from the base to dive under the posts, as Horne's conversion made it 10-7.

New signing Kieran Brookes had been making a real impact on Munster's scrum, and on 34 minutes they drove through the Glasgow pack to earn a penalty and spark a pushing and shoving match between both sides as Matt Fagerson tried to rough-up O'Donovan.

The home side looked energised by that little set-to, and from the resulting lineout they got their maul rumbling close to the Glasgow line, before Milne burrowed over for their second try, which Hanrahan converted for 17-7, and they brought that advantage to the half time break after a crucial intervention from Fineen Wycherley shut down a Warriors maul.

With the wind behind them, Glasgow dominated the early stages of the second half, and after extensive pressure around the Munster 22, they eventually forced their way over for a second try on 51 minutes, McBeth squeezing over the line before Horne's conversion left just three between the sides.

The Munster response was excellent as they marched straight down the pitch with a lengthy set of phases, Jack O'Donoghue in particular with a rumbling carry, before a penalty allowed Hanrahan tag on three points for a 20-14 lead on 58 minutes.

It was a brief spell of power for Munster, as Glasgow's power began to wear them down into the final quarter, and when John Hodnett was pinged for a high tackle, Glasgow used the lineout to great effect as they went wide to Dobie, who was stopped short of the line, only for Horne (above) to quickly follow up and dive in for a try, converting it himself to put Glasgow 21-20 ahead on 66 minutes.

With for four minutes to play, the visitors all but guaranteed their win, as Brian Gleeson's infringement at a breakdown gave them a platform in the 22, from which Dobie eventually scored his second try of the game, and while his missed conversion left the game alive at 26-20, they did enough to see out a valuable bonus-point win.

Scorers

Munster: Tries: Ben O'Connor, Michael Milne

Cons: JJ Hanrahan (2)

Pens: JJ Hanrahan (2)

Glasgow Warriors: Tries: Jamie Dobie (2), Nathan McBeth, George Horne

Cons: George Horne (3)

Munster: Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Seán O'Brien, Ben O'Connor; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O’Donovan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Kieran Brookes; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe (for Barron, 32), Josh Wycherley (for Milne, 49), Michael Ala’alatoa (for Brookes, 49), Brian Gleeson (for O'Donoghue, 29-39 HIA and for Coombes, 58), John Hodnett (for Kendellen, 58), Jake O’Riordan (for O'Donovan, 58), Charlie O’Shea (for Hanrahan, 70), Dan Kelly (for Haley, 17)

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay; Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall (capt), Jamie Dobie; Dan Lancaster, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Gregor Hiddleston, Murphy Walker; Gregor Brown, Max Williamson; Ally Miller, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson

Replacements: Seb Stephen (for Hiddleston, 45), Nathan McBeth (for Schickerling, 45), Sam Talakai (for Walker, 45), Scott Cummings (for Brown, 60), Angus Fraser, Macenzzie Duncan (for Miller, 60), Callum Reidy, Bayley Kuenzle (for Rowe, 61)

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)