Munster produced a passionate display at Thomond Park to beat the Lions and qualify for the Vodacom URC quarter-finals at Ulster’s expense.
Munster needed just one point to finish in the top eight but picked up four in a hard-fought 24-17 win to move up from ninth to fifth. They will travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls in two weeks’ time.
The Lions had already qualified for the quarter-finals following Ulster’s loss on Friday night. They finished seventh – to also book a spot in next season’s Investec Champions Cup – and will meet Leinster in Dublin.
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Munster were forced into several late changes before kick-off, including the loss of Ireland flyhalf Jack Crowley during the warm-up, with JJ Hanrahan starting at 10.
But it didn’t prevent them from opening the scoring when, having withstood a fierce Lions onslaught, a 50/22 led to a try for lock Evan O’Connell.
Lions lock Darrien Landsberg did well to hold up Munster No 8 Brian Gleeson in-goal and prevent another score, before Lions fullback Quan Horn scored an interception try.
Quan Horn makes the read and the Lions are in for their first
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Hanrahan’s penalty goal put Munster back in front, but they were then reduced to 13 men when winger Andrew Smith and centre Seán O’Brien saw yellow in quick succession for deliberate knock-ons.
The Lions initially failed to capitalise on their two-man advantage, with a botched lineout followed by a lineout maul that didn’t get going.
Winger Kelly Mpeku eventually scored after an overlap, but no sooner had Munster been restored to 14 men than scrumhalf Craig Casey darted over to give the hosts a 17-14 half-time lead.
13-man Munster can’t keep up with the Lions
Kelly Mpeku gets his first of the match
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Both sides missed try-scoring opportunities early in the second half, before Munster lock Tom Ahern went over in the 55th minute to make it 24-14.
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Flyhalf Chris Smith clawed three points back for the Lions, who then pushed hard for a match-levelling converted try.
With 10 minutes remaining and rain falling, the visitors seemed set to score from a tap penalty only to be held up in-goal. Winger Angelo Davids was then unlucky not to score from a kick ahead when the bounce of the ball favoured the Munster defender.
The Lions wouldn’t get another opportunity as Munster closed out the game.
MUNSTER – Tries: Evan O’Connell, Craig Casey, Tom Ahern. Conversions: JJ Hanrahan (3). Penalty: Hanrahan.
LIONS – Tries: Quan Horn, Kelly Mpeku. Conversions: Chris Smith (2).
Photo: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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