It was a disappointing weekend for the South African United Rugby Championship (URC) sides, who all tasted defeat, with Munster securing a 10-3 win over the Stormers on Saturday night.
It was a intently fought encounter between final season’s finalists, with the defending champions once more rising victorious because of an Edwin Edogbo attempt earlier than half-time, transformed by man-of-the-match Jack Crowley, who additionally opened the scoring with a penalty.
The Stormers scored the one factors of the second half by means of the boot of centre Sacha Feinberg-Mgnogmezulu because the South Africans saved Munster at bay but in addition didn’t capitalise on their alternatives.
The end result completes a quartet of defeats for the SA URC sides after the Lions and Bulls misplaced on Friday night earlier than the Sharks fell to Connacht earlier on Saturday.
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Eire stars Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray all returned for Munster, nevertheless, the poor climate circumstances made for a cagey, defence-dominated contest.
Edogbo’s attempt simply earlier than half-time punished a yellow card for Stormers captain Neethling Fouche. Jack Crowley transformed, including to his earlier penalty, for a 10-0 lead and Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s Forty fifth-minute penalty proved to be the South Africans’ solely rating.
Regardless of the greasy ball, Munster exerted sufficient management to return to profitable methods. The Stormers, although, have misplaced three URC video games in a row for the primary time.
John Dobson’s aspect nonetheless should welcome again their Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks, however there have been begins for worldwide hooker Joseph Dweba and fit-again centre Feinberg-Mngomezulu in Limerick.
Sti Sithole jumped on the turnover ball to spoil Munster’s first maul try, and a promising break by Evan Roos was halted by a Willie Engelbrecht knock-on.
O’Mahony pinched a lineout again on Munster’s aspect, and when play moved infield, Crowley slotted over a 14th-minute penalty for the opening rating.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed a long-range penalty earlier than the Stormers’ maul defence quickly got here up trumps once more, with Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon getting the plaudits.
Munster didn’t capitalise on breaks from Alex Nankivell and Shane Daly, whereas Daly and Crowley lined Leolin Zas’ harmful run and kick chase.
The hosts crucially dominated play simply earlier than the interval, and the Stormers’ third successive maul penalty, close to their very own line, landed Fouche within the bin.
The 20-year-old Edogbo crashed over from a ruck on the finish of eight battering phases. Crowley transformed with the ultimate kick of the half.
Obstruction, or not? Have your say 👇#MUNvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/ckoj1PRQ55
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) November 18, 2023
Ruben van Heerden’s lineout steal early on the resumption, coupled with some improved carrying from his team-mates, arrange Feinberg-Mngomezulu to separate the posts from shut vary.
Veteran prop Stephen Archer then got here on for his 268th Munster look, equalling Donncha O’Callaghan’s report as their most-capped participant of all-time.
An Engelbrecht turnover penalty thwarted a promising Munster spell, whereas Roos was held up twice amid a collection of scrum penalties the place the Stormers actually acquired on high.
Crowley and Murray’s tactical kicking pinned the opposition again late on, and even when Angelo Davids had some uncommon area to assault, Nankivell and Crowley swiftly slammed the door shut.
Dragons finish year-long anticipate dwelling win
Owen Farrell simply will get the higher of England fly-half rival Marcus Smith as Saracens hammer Harlequins
The Dragons recorded their first United Rugby Championship dwelling win for greater than a 12 months after seeing off 14-man Ospreys 20-5 at Rodney Parade.
Hooker Bradley Roberts and wing Rio Dyer scored tries because the Dragons triumphed following Ospreys wing Mat Protheroe being despatched off for a harmful problem after simply 27 minutes.
Evans 🔗 Dyer
There was no stopping Cai Evans linking up with Rio Dyer to run within the attempt to seal the win for @DragonsRugby 🔥#BKTURC #URC #DRAvOSP pic.twitter.com/kMR59V3EAv
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 18, 2023
Full-back Cai Evans kicked two conversions and two penalties, with Dragons transferring clear after Protheroe’s early landing.
Dragons final tasted dwelling league success in October 2022 once they defeated Zebre Parma, and the Ospreys may have few complaints on an evening when so many issues went flawed for them.
The Ospreys took simply 4 minutes to open their account, and it was a perfectly executed play as scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams floated a kick behind the Dragons’ defence, which allowed Protheroe a easy end.
In distinction, the Dragons took time to settle, and their trigger was not helped when Wales worldwide lock Ben Carter limped off simply 13 minutes into the competition.
Evans opened the Dragons’ account with a penalty, however Ospreys then suffered a quickfire double blow when Protheroe was despatched off and skipper Justin Tipuric departed injured.
Referee Ben Whitehouse issued a straight pink card following forceful head-on-head contact with Dragons fly-half Will Reed, then Tipuric departed to get replaced by Wales skipper Jac Morgan.
A second Evans penalty edged the Dragons forward earlier than they carved Ospreys’ defence open by means of a high-quality attempt completed by Roberts.
Bradley Roberts you magnificence! 😍
The hooker bursts by means of for @dragonsrugby 🐉#BKTURC #URC | #DRAvOSP pic.twitter.com/hVYAl2J7jc
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 18, 2023
Flanker Ollie Griffiths displayed spectacular imaginative and prescient and accuracy to free Roberts on an inside ball, and he surged to the road, smashing by means of Ospreys wing Luke Morgan’s tried problem for a attempt that Evans transformed and secured a 13-5 interval benefit.
The Ospreys briefly went right down to 13 gamers halfway by means of the second half when Morgan obtained a yellow card after a tip-tackle on Dyer.
It additional elevated Ospreys’ diploma of problem, though the Dragons entered the ultimate quarter having not been in a position to enhance their first-half factors tally.
Dyer’s dazzling break ought to have led to a attempt, however centre Aneurin Owen’s poor move flew large of wing Ewan Rosser.
But Evans’ supply then put the Wales worldwide clear for a clinching rating quarter-hour from time, and the Dragons may have fun the primary victory of the URC marketing campaign.
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