Hard fought draw for Munster in Champions Cup opener

Munster have started their 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup with a 10-10 draw against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. Johann van Graan’s side trailled by seven points at half time but CJ Stander’s try and Joey Carbery’s conversion earned Munster two points.

A Gareth Steenson penalty put Exeter in front but Carbery’s first strike from the kicking tee levelled the game on 28 minutes. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s try and Steenson’s conversion late on in the half gave the home side a 10-3 lead but Munster fought back to get the draw.

Exeter had the advantage of a gale in the opening 40 minutes but the conditions didn’t really help either sides in the first quarter.

Munster were on top a the breakdown during that period with Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne winning penalties. On the back of a penalty, Munster drove close to the Exeter line but a Stephen Archer knock on scuppered that attack.

https://twitter.com/trev_holloway/status/1051123425706737664

Exeter eventually found their feet with Steenson kicking them into the lead on 19 minutes after O’Mahony was deemed to have not released a tackle at a ruck.

Munster came back immediately into Exeter territory after another Beirne turnover. That led to a 28 phase attack and a Carbery penalty that levelled the scores.

However, it was the home side that went into break ahead when successive scrum penalties inside the ’22 eventually saw Luke Cowan-Dickie power over from close range. Steenson added the extras to give Exeter a 10-3 half time advantage.

38 Try Chiefs! The forwards keep the ball in hand and drive several times for the line. @1_Dickie gets over for the five points

8-3#EXEvMUN pic.twitter.com/zOiwIhADJh

— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) October 13, 2018

Munster, aided by the breeze, took control immediately from the restart but were repelled time after time early in the second half as Exeter defended admirably. Van Graan’s men looked to have got their try when Chris Cloete dotted down after a powerful maul but referee Jerome Garces disallowed the score for obstruction.

 Peter O’Mahony on the move in Munster’s 10-10 draw with Exeter Chiefs. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Exeter then went for the jugular with Henry Slade’s initial break but some heroic Duncan Williams defending saw Munster keep the deficit at seven points. The scrum half made two tackles in quick succession that forced an Exeter error in a rare foray into Munster territory.

Duncan Williams man of the match surely?! #EXEvMUN

— Alby Mathewson (@AlbyMathewson) October 13, 2018

Munster were then finally rewarded for their dominance when Stander scored after a powerful initial break close to the line by Tommy O’Donnell. Carbery added the conversion to square the game at 10 points apiece.

TRY!

"They know what to do, they know how to get the job done." – @JeremyGuscott

CJ Stander drives through two tackles on the line.

15 minutes to go…

Exeter 10-10 Munster

📲 🏉https://t.co/qVTVbQPgGd #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/XrsyW80mbc

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 13, 2018

There was a late scare for Munster with a Carbery clearance on his own ’22 going over the Exeter dead ball line but Munster’s defence held firm for the 10-10 draw.

FT: Exeter 10-10 Munster

Munster come from behind to claim two precious points on the road. pic.twitter.com/XryNXAvT6t

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 13, 2018