Pro14: Munster edge out Edinburgh in Limerick

Munster players celebrate CJ Stander's late try against Edinburgh

CJ Stander's try four minutes from time helped Munster to a 25-23 victory over Edinburgh in the Pro14 encounter at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

The Scots led 14-12 at the break thanks to converted tries from Mark Bennett and WP Nel.

Ben Healy's sixth penalty saw Munster move in front but back came Edinburgh with two Jaco Van Der Walt penalties to make it 23-18.

Stander went over for the late try with Healy's conversion winning it.

Munster were aiming to make it two wins from their opening two Pro14 games while Edinburgh sought to bounce back from a home defeat by the Ospreys.

Tipperary youngster Healy had an assured opening in Munster's first Thomond Park appearance since rugby's restart.

Between the posts

He banged over two well-struck penalties, rewarding the efforts of Stander and Jeremy Loughman at the breakdown.

Munster's own indiscipline allowed Edinburgh to build for an opening 12th-minute try - Grant Gilchrist knocked on a few metres out, but the visitors came again and centre Bennett broke in between Alex McHenry and debutant Matt Gallagher to score to the right of the posts.

Van Der Walt's conversion dispatched, Damien Hoyland did very well to reach Rory Scannell's kick through ahead of the chasing Jack O'Donoghue as Munster hunted for a try in response.

The TMO review went Edinburgh's way, but a third Healy kick restored Munster's lead midway through the half.

On the half-hour mark, beefy Edinburgh prop Nel touched down past Rhys Marshall and John Ryan after an equally strong carry from Stuart McInally. Van Der Walt's conversion was followed by a late fourth Healy penalty, which came after another display of Tadhg Beirne's breakdown ability.

Munster fly-half Ben Healy is halted by Edinburgh's Mark Bennett

Early in the second period, Andrew Conway's scrambling tackle took away a certain try from Edinburgh centre George Taylor. A Van Der Walt penalty did make it 17-12, only for Healy to quickly hit back after a high tackle on Craig Casey.

Van Der Walt then saw yellow for a high tackle on his opposite number Healy,who gratefully took the three points on offer for an 18-17 scoreline. However, a D'arcy Graham break inspired the 14-man Scots, and a Bennett kick nudged them back in front with 14 minutes remaining.

Having watched Healy suffer his first penalty miss, the returning Van Der Walt extended Edinburgh's advantage in the 73rd minute.

Richard Cockerill's men were denied a famous win, though, as Stander, with James Cronin on the latch, burrowed over for Healy to convert.

Munster: Haley, Conway, McHenry, Scannell, Gallagher, Healy, Casey; Loughman, Marshall, Ryan, Wycherley, Beirne, O'Donoghue, O'Donnell, Stander (capt).

Replacements: O'Byrne, Cronin, Salanoa, Coombes, Hodnett, Murray, Crowley, Goggin.

Edinburgh: Hoyland, Graham, Bennett, Taylor, Van der Merwe, Van der Walt, Groom; Sutherland, McInally, Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Haining.

Replacements: Willemse, Schoeman, Berghan, Davidson, Kunavula, Nutton, Chamberlain, Johnstone.