Dominant Munster claim 64-7 BP win over Ulster

Munster returned to winning ways and turned in a performance that will serve as a serious boost of confidence leading into a crucial month for the province. 

A fortuitous deflection off a half blocked down kick found its way into Keith Earls’ hand. Earls offloaded to Goggin and Wootton punched a hole in the Ulster defence before Goggin linked up again to cross for the opening try with Conway adding the extras. 

Three minutes later and an Ulster fell badly off a tackle to allow Tommy O’Donnell a free run to the line. Again Carbery was unerring with the conversion to make it 14-0. 

Munster were now on top defensively while in attack, Mathewson’s tempo from the base of the ruck was causing problems for the visitors. Carbery slotted a 17th  minute penalty when Ulster were pinged for holding on. 

A HIA forced Iain Henderson from the park in and when Munster were penalised for taking out John Cooney at the ruck they strangely decided against taking their points in favour of the touchline. Munster defended the lineout and cleared. 

Set piece domination was again to the fore in the 30th minute as Munster  kicked a scrum penalty to the corner. The maul was set and O’Donnell flopped over for his second of the game. Carbery’s kick came back off the upright but at 22-0 the game was quickly getting away from Ulster. 

Conway should have secure the BP before half time but knocked on with a clear run to the line at his mercy. The bonus point try did come on the 37th minute as a serious of assaults on the Ulster line left a huge gap for Dan Goggin to go through for his second of the game. Carbery converted to make it 29-0. 

Ulster came back out in the second half with pride to play for and some of that was restored on the 46th minute with Darren Cave punching a hole in the Munster defence close to the line with Billy Burns on target with the conversion. 

Stung by the concession, Munster’s riposte was emphatic. Carbery was pulling the strings at ten and nearly put Wootton in on the left flank before the ball came over the other side to find Peter O’Mahony hiding out on the sideline and dot down for Munster’s 5th try. Carbery’s conversion was sublime. 

Carbery was in the groove and having started an attack deep inside his own 22 released the superb Goggin who got around his marker to put Wootton into space. With room running out, the winger popped back inside to Carbery who had a clear run to the line. The conversion made it 43-7.

Munster’s 7th of the evening came via Sam Arnold who followed up on a clever Wootton chip ahead to ground the ball. John Andrew was binned for Ulster as he tackled Wootton after his kick through while Keatley added the extras to take Munster to the half century. 

Keith Earls added an eight as Ulster’s defence had totally unravelled to make it 57-7 following another routine conversion. Wootton made it nine tries on the night for Johann van Graan’s side with Keatley adding a touchline conversion to bring the final score to 64-7.

Bigger tests lie ahead next week and beyond but as a response to last weekend, this was everything Johann van Gran and his backroom team would have wanted.