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PLENTY OF PERSPIRATION - NOT ENOUGH INSPIRATION
Edinburgh Rugby: 0 Munster: 11
There was huffing and puffing aplenty at Murrayfield this evening. But sadly for Edinburgh, Munster steadfastly refused to budge, let alone be blown down. After building an early 6-0 lead, a well-worked try by South African Shaun Payne just after half time and 80 minutes of solid defending gave the Irishmen their first win over the Gunners for two years.
For Edinburgh, again it was a case of them creating enough chances to win, but not taking them. Particularly in the first half, they came close on numerous occasions, but they did not have the guile to unlock the Munster defence. The cunning tactic of hoofing the ball on a regular basis to one of the world's most gifted running full-backs, Christian Cullen, did not pay dividends; although, happily, the great man seemed to have little idea of what to do with the ball himself when he got it.
When that combative centre Mike Mullins broke through a tackle and got to the Gunners' 22 from the opening kick off, earning Burke his first penalty, there was already a concern that he and Rob Henderson might be able to do some damage. But, in fact, it was one of the few tackles that Edinburgh missed as Munster rarely threatened their line throughout the game.
After the home side regained their composure, there came an odd piece of play on seven minutes that summed up the shape of the game to come. After a free kick was awarded at an attacking Munster lineout, the Gunners did well to move the ball out to halfway, only to fumble their way backwards to their own 22, where they were penalised a second time. 6-0 Munster.
On 10 minutes, Laney poked a kickable penalty into touch, to set up useful pressure in the visiting 22, only for an accidental offside to foil them. Shortly after, Laney almost jinked over, then Callam came close, before Munster turned the ball over at the breakdown.
The Gunners maul was looking very strong at this point, with visiting scrum half Prendergast having a nightmare game round the fringes - his only positive contribution before being replaced at half time was to deliberately knock on during Munster advantage, to give Burke a shot at goal on 27 minutes, which he missed. Yet time and again, the Gunners committed the cardinal sin of spending lots of time in the green - or red, depending on your choice of terminology - zone but not coming away with points.
As the first half closed, the Gunners were throwing the ball around with some confidence. Dewey on the left wing looked eager, and his pace and physique allowed him to break a number of first tackles on the counter. At only 6-0 down, the prospects for the home side were looking promising. But still no points. The half ended with Burke floored by a very serious looking injury, and taken off the field to generous sympathetic applause.
Munster effectively won the game with another quick fire attack early in the second period for Payne's try. Immediately afterwards, Mullins put Cullen over for the touchdown, but he was called back for a forward pass.
The game rather subsided from then on. Munster seemed content to soak up the pressure; the Gunners had their moments, but try as they might, they could not get over the line.
Indeed, it was only in injury time that they managed to break down the thin red line, with Laney slicing through the cover off quick scrum ball. He scorched down the left wing, but though his offload went to hand, the Munstermen were there to snuff out the danger.
Perhaps tonight's disappointing performance was, in fact, a highly devious attempt to lull Newcastle into a false sense of security for the make-or-break Heineken clash with the Falcons in Geordieland on 5 December. If so, then it was certainly a very convincing effort. If they can pull off the win, they will still be in the hunt for qualification. But there is plenty of work to do.
SCORERS:
MUNSTER: Payne 1T, Burke 2P
TEAMS:
Edinburgh: D Lee, C Joiner, M Di Rollo, B Laney, R Dewey, P Godman, R Lawson, C Smith, A Kelly, J Brannigan, F Pringle, A Kellock, T Blackadder (capt), D Callam, Alan MacDonald. Replacements: D Hall, A Dickinson, A Strokosch, C Harrison, J Blackwood, P Boston, B MacDougall.
Munster: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; P Burke (capt), M Prendergast; F Roche, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, T Bowman; A Quinlan, D Wallace, S Keogh. Replacements: E McGovern, D Fogarty, T Hayes, D Leamy, E Reddan, J Holland, J Storey.
Referee: Owens (Wales)
Martin Bell
