SIMON SAYS FARWELL IN SOME STYLE
Emotional & classy goodbye from Zebo
PRO 14 QUARTER-FINAL
The Racing 92-bound full-back tore Edinburgh apart for Keith Earls’ key second-half try, while a solid outing from JJ Hanrahan and his late penalty eased Munster’s worries after Edinburgh’s final quarter comeback.
Surprisingly Munster coach Johann van Grann elected to start Hanrahan at out-half ahead of regular No 10 Ian Keatley, but the new man’s kicking game was solid.
Nine minutes in he edged his side into the Edinburgh 22, and when Stuart Mcinally’s throw overshot the lineout, his opposite number Marshall gathered.
The Kiwi hooker showed impressive footwork to evade Hidalgo Clyne and Duhan van der Merwe on his way over the try-line though, and Hanrahan’s conversion was perfect for a 7-0 Munster lead.
Richard Cockerill’s side got the score their enterprising play deserved when James Cronin kicked the ball out of Hidalgo-clyne’s hand at the breakdown, and the Edinburgh scrum-half dispatched the kick from the 10-metre line midway through the opening period. Five minutes later Cronin infringed and the No.9 added his second penalty, this one slightly easier than the opener to trim the lead to one point.
The home side’s game was far from polished though. Zebo was lucky to escape unpunished with a couple of aimless kicks, while Rory Scannell chip through was well marshalled by Blair Kinghorn and his smart counter attack was only halted 50 metres down the field.
A one-point lead was about as much as Munster deserved at half-time, but Thomond Park was on its feet in worship three minutes after the restart.
When Murray fired a wild pass over Zebo’s head near halfway there was no chance of a try one pass later, but the magical full-back gathered the loose ball, chipped over the defensive line, reclaimed possession himself, and then fired a 20-metre pass to Earls on the left and he cantered in at the corner flag. It was a stunning moment and the winning of the game for the home side. Hanrahan added the conversion from the sideline for a 14-6 lead, and nine minutes later a slow rolling Edinburgh tackler allowed him to stretch that lead to 11 points. Edinburgh looked down and out at that point, but after Peter O’mahony conceded a breakdown penalty, Hidalgo-clyne put eight points between the sides after 55 minutes.
Four minutes later that lead was just a point again. Mata showed impressive feet to break up to halfway, and after very quick hands from right to left, the Munster defence could not reset and replacement Nathan Fowles managed to cross for the try. Van der Walt landed the conversion, his only kick at goal.
It appeared as if the scene was set for Duncan Weir to appear off the bench one more time for Edinburgh and kick the winning points before his departure to Worcester this summer, but instead it was the home side who added the insurance score when Hanrahan slotted a penalty from the 10-metre line.