Cockerill’s heroes fall just short as Munster march on to last four
EDINBURGH’S dream of a first Pro14 title ended in Limerick as Simon Zebo signed off his time at Thomond Park with a moment of brilliance to set up a semi-final with Leinster in two weeks’ time.
The boot of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne had kept Edinburgh in touch in the opening period following Rhys Marshall’s early try, but after Zebo sent Keith Earls in for Munster’s key second score early in the secondhalf, a home win looked certain.
However, Nathan Fowles gave the visitors hope with a try 20 minutes from time, and then JJ Hanrahan settled Munster nerves with a late penalty to clinch the win.
In the early stages, Munster elected to attack off the back of booming Conor Murray box kicks, but chasers Andrew Conway and Keith Earls were unable to claim on the front foot, while an Earls knockon from an Edinburgh up and under pinned Munster back into their 22.
Simon Berghan’s penalty concession on the ground cost the Scots a great platform.
Surprisingly, Munster coach Johann van Grann elected to start Hanrahan at out-half ahead of regular No10 Ian Keatley, but the new man’s kicking game was very solid. He edged his side into the Edinburgh 22, and when Stuart McInally’s throw overshot the lineout, his opposite number Rhys Marshall gathered.
The Kiwi hooker showed neat footwork to evade Sam Hidalgo Clyne and Duhan van der Merwe on his way over the try-line — and Hanrahan’s conversion was perfect for a 7-0 Munster lead.
A knock-on from Berghan close to the try-line ended a flowing attack started by van der Merwe on halfway after 14 minutes but, with Bill Mata a constant threat with ball in hand, Edinburgh were regularly given chances to attack Munster wide on the flanks.
Cockerill’s side finally got the score their enterprising play deserved when James Cronin kicked the ball out of HidalgoClyne’s hands 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 again infringed with a high tackle on Jaco van der Walt and the No 9 added his second penalty, this one slightly easier than the opener to trim the lead to one point.
With Irish international James Ryan ruled out through injury, the last thing Munster needed was tighthead Stephen Archer to leave the action with a shoulder injury after 17 minutes. His replacement, youngster Ciaran Parker, forced a scrum penalty on the half-hour mark but Hanrahan’s kick missed the target.
The home side’s game was far from polished. Playing his last game in a Munster shirt at Thomond Park, Zebo was lucky to escape unpunished with a couple of aimless kicks, while Rory Scannell’s 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 halftime, but Thomond Park rose as one three minutes after the restart.
When Murray fired a wild pass over Zebo’s head near halfway the chance looked lost but the 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 moment 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.
The Scots 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. 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, to make it 17-16. 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, but instead it was the home side who added the insurance score.
Hanrahan slotted a penalty from the ten-metre line with seven minutes remaining to put four points between the sides.
Edinburgh had one last chance to win when Weir edged them into the Munster 22 from a penalty kick, but O’Mahony spoiled their hopes when he stole the ball at the front of the lineout and Munster held on.