Pro14 QF: Munster vs Edinburgh 05/05

First topic message reminder :

Head Coach Richard Cockerill has made three changes ahead of Edinburgh’s highly anticipated Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier against Munster at Thomond Park tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 5 May, kick-off 3.15pm) - live on Sky Sport Action and BBC ALBA.

A revamped midfield sees Chris Dean return to action after missing last weekend’s 1872 Cup victory due to injury alongside Scotland international Mark Bennett who gets the nod at outside centre.

Fullback Blair Kinghorn – a late call-off in last weekend’s win over Glasgow Warriors – recovers from illness and is once again named in the starting XV.

As Edinburgh look to make history in what is their first-ever appearance in the PRO14 Final Series, Cockerill has once again called on his side to shake off the pressure and go into the game with confidence.

"It’s going to be a big day for us and we have earned the right to be there - the league table doesn’t lie,” said the Head Coach.

We can beat them if we get it right. We played a Munster second team in March, so we expect to face a different side tomorrow. They have world class players and are a different force at home. We’re looking forward to it and these are the challenges we want.

“We know if we play at our best, we will give ourselves opportunities to beat Munster. The chances are that they should win, however, they are at home and have just dropped out of Europe, so there is a bit of pressure on them.”

With Kinghorn reinstated at fullback, Dougie Fife returns to the wing alongside South African star Duhan van der Merwe. Jaco van der Walt and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne are once again named at half-back.

An unchanged front-row sees props Jordan Lay and Simon Berghan pack down either side of captain Stuart McInally.

Scotland internationalists Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second-row, whilst Fijian star Bill Mata features alongside Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Ritchie in an unaltered back-row.



Edinburgh team to face Munster in the Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier at Thomond Park on Saturday 5 May (kick-off 3.15pm) – live on Sky Sports Action and BBC ALBA.



15. Blair Kinghorn (63)



14. Dougie Fife (106)

13. Mark Bennett (11)

12. Chris Dean (65)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (17)



10. Jaco van der Walt (16)

9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (107)



1. Jordan Lay (11)

2. Stuart McInally (119) CAPTAIN

3. Simon Berghan (48)

4. Ben Toolis (87)

5. Grant Gilchrist (119)

6. Magnus Bradbury (52)

7. Jamie Ritchie (48)

8. Bill Mata (36)



Replacements: 16. Neil Cochrane (75); 17. Allan Dell (43); 18. WP Nel (115); 19. Lewis Carmichael (32); 20 Cornell du Preez (104); 21. Nathan Fowles (58); 22. Duncan Weir (34); 23. James Johnstone (17)


MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.

Very long final quarter for Munster now. An 11 point lead gone in minutes and Edinburgh are fired up.

Fowles is the best player ever!!!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fowles is the best player ever!!!

Thought you weren't watching?

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fowles is the best player ever!!!

Thought you weren't watching?

Managed to start watching slyly on my phone just before he scored!

That ruck was so slow and the pass so telegraphed

Dunky is on. It's going to go to a drop goal!

Nel wins a scrum penalty

Edinburgh still just one pass away

Too many knock ons! So frustrating, we're so close

A little more composure and Edinburgh would be away with this.

Another silly penalty, Edinburgh need a try to win this

Awful kick

FFS Meatball that was terrible

Well that could be it for Edinburgh. No real need to kick there but it was a horrible kick. Composure...

Earls for Man of The Match for me.

Neither VDW or Weir have played well Edinburgh, they have not controlled the game.

eirebilly wrote:

Earls for Man of The Match for me.

No complaints about that

Good effort but none of these players have knock out rugby experience.

Barclay signed most likely to bring more of that.

Last chance saloon

This is the final chance - can we do it again??

Silly penalty to give away with time up...

Another chance for Edinburgh.

Big game experaince

Well done Munster, what a great game

POM steals the lineout... PHEW.

Sorry Edinburgh fans, that was some match. Hard lines lads.

But who would have betted Edinburgh would be 4 points away from a semi final.

Great season and the players should go into next season with huge confidence.

We'll that' a disappointing way to end, sounds like a great effort though!

Edinburgh just lacked a little bit of composure, probably quarter finals are where they are at this season. Hopefully they will grow from here.

Congrats Munster, a big game team in the way that we aren't, yet.

Took it to the wire though, what a season. Onwards and upwards for this young team.

Zebo with the kids on the field saying goodbye to Thomond Park, beautiful scenes. He loves Munster and we love him.

What a legend for Munster and he will be sorely missed.

Edinburgh did well and if they can carry on next year will be one of the big boys

If fowles plays like he did today he should be fine at SH.

Every time the backs got the ball I was worried

Fowles answered one or two questions, then asked some more with that dreadful intercept.

Still hard to see him as a starting SH, but at least he brought some impact on today. He does seem to pass better than SHC, which has been one of Toonie's reason for not picking him. Sammy did not have a great game either, other than his place kicking.

Half back is definitely where Edinburgh have room for improvement next season, crack that and they could be a really dangerous team.

What a shame, i kind of hoped there would be more than 7 points in this as this means the gifted Munster try in the 1st half proved the difference..

Edinburgh, the better team throughout, as shown by the stats. They would have at least given Leinster a game, Munster will be no match for them.

Hugely disappointing crowd. Munster fans, where were you?

Well done Munster to hang in there against a very strong Edinburgh side.

I have to say Cockerill has done a super job, this side could be title contenders next year.

Earls had another fantastic game for Munster but they do seem to lack a bit of fire power in attack.

VinceWLB wrote: Hugely disappointing crowd. Munster fans, where were you?

Well there were over 3000 more in Limerick and there were in Llanelli