Summary

  • Munster 7-28 Leinster (Result)

  • Leinster score twice in first half through Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast

  • Tommy O'Brien shown yellow card for Leinster after 20 minutes

  • Munster get on the board through Tom Ahern but Leinster strike back with Josh van der Flier score

  • Caelan Doris secures bonus point with seven minutes left

  1. 'Set-piece was our platform': Leinster captain Caelan Dorispublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster

    Caelan Doris: "It's an occasion we relish, it's a hard place to come and get a win and a performance, bit of a cauldron. The Munster supporters get in nice and early. You can hear them from the very start so we spoke about having a fast start, trying to get ourselves in the game nice and early.

    "I think it was out set-piece that laid the platform in the first half, our lineout and our scrum were very good, discipline not so good but pleasing overall."

  2. Player-of-the-Match Sam Prendergast credits forwardspublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster (FT)

    Sam Prendergast: "It was good, it was my first experience playing against Munster at senior level, and playing down here it was some atmosphere in this game.

    "It was a tough game but we fought through the hard moments well and managed to get a good bonus-point win.

    "Our forwards are doing a great job of sucking their defenders in all day, through the scrum and stuff like that. I felt like we got such a good platform off the forwards that it made a bit easier for us backs."

  3. Leinster secure bonus point win over Munsterpublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster (FT)

    Leinster have secured a comfortable bonus point win over their provincial rivals, Munster, at Thomond Park this evening.

    The visitors got off to a good start, notching two tries in the first half from Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast.

    Tom Ahern hit back for the hosts in the second half, but two further tries from Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris sealed the bonus point win for Leinster.

    That makes it an impressive seven bonus point wins from nine games for Leo Cullen's men.

    Thank you for joining us for all of the action.

  4. Full-timepublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster

    Tommy O'Brien kicks the ball into touch and it's all over here at Thomond Park.

    Leinster leave Limerick with a bonus point win.

    Leo Cullen's side scored two tries in each half and, despite a spirited effort from the hosts, the visitors always kept them out of touching distance.

  5. Postpublished at 21:21 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster

    Just over a minute to go as Leinster attack once again.

    It's damage limitation at this point for Munster, with the visitors still in the ascendancy as the clock goes red.

    Leinster attacking in midfield and making good progress.

    They are relentless.

    Can the visitors finish off in style?

  6. No try: Munster 7-28 Leinsterpublished at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Lee Barron

    The on-field decision from the referee that the ball was held up stands.

    Lee Barron is deemed to have failed to get the ball grounded.

    It's a goal-line drop-out for Munster.

  7. Postpublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-28 Leinster

    Leinster showing no signs of taking their foot off the pedal as Munster look tired in defence.

    Jordan Larmour with a strong carry in midfield.

    Leinster camped on Munster's line as they search for another try with only a minute to go.

  8. converted try

    Converted try: Munster 7-28 Leinsterpublished at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Caelan Doris (try); Ross Byrne (conv)

    Leinster have a bonus point try!

    Several carries close to the line as Munster defend desperately, but Caelan Doris powers his way past two defenders and crashes over for his side's fourth try.

    Ross Byrne adds the extras.

  9. Postpublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    A probing kick from Ross Byrne goes into the in-goal area and Calvin Nash touches it down for a drop-out.

    Leinster return kick with another attack as they search for a bonus-point try with only ten minutes remaining.

    They are five metres out and the referee indicates they have advantage for Munster being offside.

  10. Postpublished at 21:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Tom Ahern carries out wide before the ball is sent wide and a kick to Leinster's backfield is returned.

    Kicks are traded back-and-forth before a scrappy period of play results in a Leinster penalty.

    Leinster fail to find touch and Munster clear their lines but the visitors still have possession inside their half.

  11. Postpublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Leinster efficient with their defence. They have disrupted at the breakdown slowed the ball down.

    The visitors now have a chance to attack, with Josh van der Flier powering his way forward before being forced into touch.

  12. Postpublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Munster struggling to secure quick ruck ball, but there is no lack of effort as they fight to get a foothold in this game.

    Leinster have the lineout just inside Munster's half.

  13. Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Munster going through the phases but aggressive line-speed from Leinster is making their life difficult.

    They resort to kicking over the top and find touch, giving Leinster a lineout deep inside their own half.

    The ball is sent back to Munster and they continue to battle their way up the pitch.

  14. Postpublished at 20:55 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Munster trying to find a way through the blue wall of defence but the ball is spilled forward after an unsympathetic pass to John Hodnett, stopping the hosts in their tracks.

    Leinster have the scrum where they will once again look to exert pressure on Munster's pack.

  15. Postpublished at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-21 Leinster

    Another scrum penalty to Leinster.

    Munster really struggling at the set-piece.

    However, an earlier infringement has been spotted - an illegal clear out from Leinster which supersedes the scrum penalty.

    Munster now have a chance to battle their way back into the game as they attack in Leinster's half.

  16. converted try

    Converted try: Munster 7-21 Leinsterpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Josh van der Flier (try); Sam Prendergast (conv) (53 mins)

    Leinster have their third try!

    A lineout is their attacking platform and the ball is sent into the middle of the pitch.

    Josh van der Flier spots a gap at the side of a ruck and charges over for the try.

    Sam Prendergast is accurate from the kicking tee to extend his side's lead.

    Clinical from the visitors.

    Josh van der FlierImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Leinster have three tries on the night

  17. Postpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-14 Leinster

    Really powerful scrum from Leinster as they win a scrum penalty.

    Sam Prendergast kicks for the corner and it's a lineout in a dangerous position.

    They go in search of their third try of the evening.

  18. Postpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 7-14 Leinster

    It's really heating up here at Thomond Park, with a melee adding to the usual inter-provincial spice.

    After things finally settle down it's a scrum to Leinster and they march forward before sending the ball wide.

    The ball goes forward and Munster get the scrum.

    Can they cope with the pressure coming from Leinster's pack?

  19. converted try

    Converted try: Munster 7-14 Leinsterpublished at 20:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Tom Ahern (try); Billy Burns (conv) (45 mins)

    Munster finally make their breakthrough!

    The hosts convert a lengthy spell of territory into points.

    Munster camped on Leinster's line before the ball goes wide to Tom Ahern who uses his power to surge towards the line and reach over to touch down.

    Billy Burns adds the extras to bring his side within one converted try of Leinster.

    Tom Ahern celebratesImage source, Inpho
  20. Postpublished at 20:38 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December

    Munster 0-14 Leinster

    Munster win another penalty and they will tap-and-go.

    Leinster defend aggressively and are pinged for another infringement at the breakdown.

    Frustrating for Munster given their inability to convert field position into points and also the repeated infringements from Leinster.