WATCH: Munster overcome Leinster in ill-tempered battle

Munster held their discipline when it counted and more importantly took their chances to claim a vital 26-17 win over Leinster in a bruising encounter at Thomond Park. The win closes the gap to Glasgow at the top of Conference A to just two points after the Warriors lost at home to Edinburgh earlier in the evening.

The opening minutes say plenty of niggle as Leinster enjoyed the bulk of the early territory with Munster holding solid despite the visitors making a few half breaks. Fineen Wycherley got acquainted with Johnny Sexton with an early tangle. The hit was late but the penalty was reversed for Sexton’s reaction.

Munster did manage a foray into Leinster territory and when Scott Fardy’s tackle slid up to Chris Cloete’s neck, it presented an excellent opportunity for Munster to get a foothold.

Carbery kicked to the corner, Munster secured the lineout and the maul was accurate. Cloete bagged the try and Carbery added the extras to make it 7-0 to the home side.

Sexton landed a 24th minute penalty to reduce the arrears after Munster were penalised at the breakdown. The game would simmer away in bad tempered fashion until the half hour mark when Tadgh Furlong was extremely lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a shoulder charge to the head of Chris Cloete which forced the South African to leave the field with Arno Botha coming on in his place. It will be interesting to see if the citing commissioner thinks differently of the decision during the week.

Two minutes later and a reckless challenge from Leinster’s James Lowe saw Andrew Conway come land dangerously on his neck and head. The red card was produced and Munster would now have an extra man for the remainder.

Despite having a two man advantage Munster would only add two Joey Carbery penalties to their tally to take a 13-3 lead in at the break. For their part, Leinster knew discipline would need to improve if they were to have any chance of clawing their way back into contention.

With Munster looking to further extend their lead, Josh van der Flier fell on the wrong side of a collision presenting Carbery with another penalty opportunity which he slotted to make it Munster 16-3.

Two minutes later and Leinster turned down an easy three points to kick for the corner. Munster were offside in the initial attack and Leinster looked to repeat the dose. A well set maul saw Josh van der Flier crash over to cut the gap. Sexton added the extras with Leinster now trailing their opponents by 16 points to 10. Game very much back on.

Another Carbery penalty made it 19-10. Leinster turned down several three pointers in favour of the lineout deep in Munster territory. With the visitors edging ominously close to nabbing a momentum changing try, Keith Earls broke the line, intercepted and ran the full length of the pitch under the posts at the Ballynanty end. The game was secured and Bleyendaal added the extras to make it 26-10

 Max Deegan added a late consolation try for Leinster with Frawley adding the extras but it was Munster who would claim the bragging rights for now in what was a pulsating affair.