Good win for London Irish against full strength Munster

Date: Fri 24 Aug 2012
London Irish finished off their pre-season preparations with a 34-10 victory over Munster at Musgrave Park this evening.
The Exiles outscored Munster by three tries to one in a victory that was based on a solid defensive effort.
It was a very even contest for the first 15 minutes. Irish showed resilient defence to repel any attacking opportunity Munster presented.

The hosts resorted to kicking the ball to the corner in the final third as there was no way through the Exiles defence.
The physicality from both sets of players was enormous, as you would expect one week out from the start of the Aviva Premiership.
Steven Shingler gave his side a well-deserved lead on 18 minutes with a sweetly struck penalty from 30 metres out.
Topsy Ojo crossed for the first try of the match and it was an absolute beauty. Irish held the ball at the back of the rolling maul before Tomás O’Leary, facing the province he represented for eight seasons, passed to Ofisa Treviranus and then got the ball back from the Samoan flanker and fed Steven Shingler, who went gliding through the defensive hole. Shingler passed to Joseph who then spun a wide pass to Homer who went sprinting up the right touch line. The full back drew the last two men and passed back inside to Ojo who dotted down under the posts. It was a move straight off the training paddock that worked to perfection. Shingler kicked the conversion to give the Exiles a 10-0 lead.
Irish were being clinical whenever they were presented with opportunities in the Munster half. Shingler converted his second penalty of the evening on 32 minutes to put day light between the two sides.
Munster were camped on the Irish line for the remainder of the half but were unable to come away with any points. The Irish front five were performing outstandingly at the set piece, not allowing the hosts to get any parity up front.
Ian Keatley kicked a long range penalty on the stroke of half time to put Munster on the board. At half time the score was Munster 3 London Irish 13.
Joe Ansbro sustained an injury within the first minute of the restart as play was delayed for 10 minutes. An update on Joe's progress will be reported as soon as available. Irish started the better after the injury and edged further clear with another Shingler penalty on 44 minutes.
Irish were dominating the contest and moved further ahead with Shingler’s fourth penalty. Brian Smith’s side’s ball retention was fantastic, as was decision making in key areas of the field. Shingler was making the hosts pay with any indiscipline. His fifth penalty saw the Exiles stretch their lead to 22 points to 3.
Ferocious Irish defence was putting London Irish on the front foot. The hosts had no way of breaking through the Irish line and when the visitors forced another turnover Irish again capitalised.
Shingler made a half break and offloaded to Jon Fisher who went sprinting for the line. The number 8 was dragged down metres short, but quick ball meant the chance was not spurned and Shingler dived over in the corner to put the game out of Munster’s reach. The fly half added the conversion and the lead was now 29-3.
Irish defence was again at the heart of everything good in attack. With just over five minutes left Irish pilled numbers into the break down turned the ball over and Marland Yarde sprinted 70 metres to score in the corner.
Munster scored a consolation try just before the end but that that took nothing away from the Exiles.
It was a very impressive and timely performance by London Irish as they head into the start of the Aviva Premiership next Saturday against Saracens.
Score sequence (London Irish first): 3-0, 10-0, 13-0, 13-3, 16-3, 19-3, 22-3, 29-3, 34-3, 34-10
Scorers: London Irish: Tries: Ojo (23), Shingler (57), Yarde (74); Conversions: Shingler (2); Penalties: Shingler (18, 32, 44, 49, 52); Munster: Penalties: Ian Keatley (40); Tries: Henry (80); Conversions: Deasy
Munster team
15. Denis Hurley; 14. Doug Howlett (Captain); 13. Casey Laulala; 12. James Downey; 11. Johne Murphy; 10. Ian Keatley; 9. Duncan Williams; 1. Wian du Preez; 2. Damian Varley; 3. BJ Botha; 4. Billy Holland; 5. Dave Foley; 6. Dave O’Callaghan; 7. Sean Dougall; 8. James Coughlan
Replacements: 16. Marcus Horan; 17; Sean Henry; 18. Stephen Archer; 19. Phillip Donnellan; 20. Tommy O’Donnell; 21. Paddy Butler; 22. Peter Stringer; 23. Scott Deasy; 24. Sean Scanlon; 25. Luke O’Dea
London Irish team
15. Tom Homer; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Jonathan Joseph; 12. Joe Ansbro; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau; 10. Steven Shingler; 9. Tomás O’Leary; 1. Max Lahiff; 2. Scott Lawson; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. Bryn Evans (Captain); 5. George Skivington; 6. Jamie Gibson; 7. Ofisa Treviranus; 8. Jon Fisher
Replacements: 16. Shaun Malton; 17. Halani Aulika; 18. James Doherty; 19. Gerard Ellis; 20 Alex Gray; 21. Darren Allinson; 22. Conor Gaston; 23. Mike Ward; 24. Foster Horan; 25. Marland Yarde; 26. Kieran Low
Referee: David Wilkinson
Attendance: 7,000

It was a good win, but we can't get carried away.

We have issues in a couple of positions in terms of depth, where current injuries mean we have no option, most notably at prop, and alsoat 12 after Ansbro's unfortunate injury in this game.

Saracens first up in the AP this week is tough opener. I hope that Edwards has the defence on point, and we can match them in terms of physicality. If we can do that, then we should create chances, and then it's anyones game.

Can't wait.

By "full strength", you mean missing Earls, Zebo, O'Gara, O'Connell, Ryan etc? Interesting act of violence against the English language.

Looks like McShingler has a good game!

Clearly not a "full strength" Munster team, you only get to see that in the Hieneken cup. I don't know enough about the LI squad to know how many first team players they had injured.

Bodes well for Edinburgh - we got humped by Northampton but luckily Munster didn't do too well either, and we've got them first in the league.

Hopefully Joe Ansbro is OK - any update yet?

Tweets from other LI players would suggest that his injury is not massively serious, but I would be surprised to see him this weekend against Saracens.

Is iHumph injured? I haven't seen him featuring in your pre-season.

He is MrsP, although expected to be fit within the week. Doubt he will start as he's played no part in pre season games and both Geraghty and McShinglesa have played some good stuff at 10.

Nice that we have some options there now, and they'll all hopefully spur each other on to perform better for the shirt.

That is far from full strength Munster....

Munster were missing 8 or 9 players who played over the summer in the Ireland squad.

Regarding the team who played, it wasn't the best available. Luke O'Dea, Henry, Scanlon, Nagle, Dave O'Callaghan, Hanrahan, Stringer and maybe Donnellan would all be an improvement on fridays team.

Actually that wouldn't be far off their starting back line for the first few Rabo games.

First choice backline would have Earls, Zebo, Murray and probably O'Gara. From what I can make out none of the second row or back row are first choice bar maybe Coughlan. Sherry possibly ahead of Varley as well. Its as close to a second 15 as it is a first 15.

I'd have Luke O'Dea (wing and fullback) and Scanlon (fullback) ahead of Johne Murphy. I'm writing Felix Jones off. I reckon his body just isn't robust enough for professional rugby.

Sherry is Munster number 1 hooker.

This season we'll see Dave O'Callaghan emerge. Himself, POm and Stander will be the backrow.

I'm not sure of Dave Foley or Billy Holland, especially Foley. Another talented player but too lightweight.

Its all my opinion of course. There'll be plenty of changes throughout the season with the new coach there.

If the players available it was pretty close to full strength, one or two bench players or possible starters were turning out for the A side instead and obviously the internationals were missing.