URC
Leinster Beat Munster to Claim Final Spot
Leinster saw off Munster in the RDS to give themselves a chance of retaining their Pro 14 crown against Glasgow next weekend
Leinster will face Glasgow Warriors in this seasons Pro 14 final after claiming a 24-9 win over rivals Munster in their semi-final at the RDS on Saturday afternoon.
Tries from Sean Cronin and James Lowe helped the boys in blue to a much-needed win after last weekend’s demoralising Champions Cup final defeat to Saracens.
The win coupled with Glasgow’s 50-20 hammering of Ulster on Friday night means that it will be a Leinster and Glasgow final in Celtic Park next Saturday.
Leinster got off to the perfect start in their semi-final with Ross Byrne, who came in to replace Johnny Sexton, kicked a penalty within the opening two minutes to give Leinster a 3-0 lead.
However, Joey Carbery, making a return to his former club, slotted over a penalty of his own for Munster only three-minutes later to make it 3-3.
Munster hit the front when James Lowe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on while Munster had a four man overlap on 24 minutes and the visitors had to settle for another three points from Carbery’s boot.
Leinster survived the ten minutes with only fourteen men without conceding any further scores and as Lowe returned to the field of play Byrne put them level with his second penalty.
It was the hosts who went in happier at half-time when Byrne knocked-over a penalty with the clock in red to make it 9-6 when the whistle blew.
It only looked like there would be one winner in the second-half as some early Leinster possession along with some poor defence from Munster led to Niall Scannell being yellow-carded.
Byrne made it four penalties from four on 45 minutes, and it was 12-6 in the hosts favour.
Carbery pulled three points back five-minutes later but that was as good as it got for the away side as within four minutes Leinster were over for the games opening try.
Some good build-up play allowed the ball to be spread out to the wide right, where it found the entire front-row as Cian Healy burst forward to pass to Tadhg Fulong, who in turn laid it on to Sean Cronin to barge his was over the whitewash.
Byrne converted and it was a 10-point game at 19-9.
Munster had promising territory over the next fifteen minutes but made nothing of it and it looked as though Leinster could break away for a try any time they got their hands on the ball.
However, it wasn’t until the final minute of play that Leinster would score again when some nice passing ended up with Lowe who battled past both Rory Scannell and Chris Farrell to touchdown in the left corner.
Substitute Sexton scuffed the conversion wide, but it meant very little as Leinster marched on to another final.
The win provided Leinster with the chance to gain back-to-back domestic titles next Saturday against Glasgow and they will be even more hungry for silverware having had their European crown taken away from them.
The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday night’s URC Round 13 clash against Cardiff at Thomond Park.
The game kicks off at 7.35pm with tickets from €20 available here.
In player news, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony have all returned to the HPC after helping Ireland to the 6 Nations title.
On the injury front, Academy back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn suffered a hand injury against Ospreys on Friday night and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley have started their rehab following minor procedures for respective knee injuries.
Alex Nankivell is completing the RTP protocols and his availability will be determined later this week.
Simon Zebo was unavailable for the Ospreys game due to a low-grade hip injury and is due to return to training this week.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
There were 15 Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons and Chris Moore helped Young Munster beat Dublin University with Gibbons among the tries.
Mark Donnelly lined out for Cork Constitution as they were beaten by Terenure College.
Kieran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke couldn’t prevent Shannon falling to a defeat to City of Armagh.
In Division 1B, Colm Hogan, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Cian Hurley and Jack Daly helped Garryowen to a win over Queen’s University. Hogan, Clein and Cronin were among the tries with Oliver kicking a conversion.
Scott Buckley and Andrew O’Mahony were in action for UCC as they lost to St Mary’s College.
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The Munster squad are continuing preparations ahead of Friday night’s URC Round 12 clash against Ospreys in Swansea (7.35pm).
On the injury front, there is good news for John Hodnett (finger), Jack O’Donoghue (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) as they all return to training this week.
Oli Jager (knee) and Fineen Wycherley (knee) are both due to see specialists this week for possible surgery.
Alex Nankivell is following the return to play protocols following a head injury in training last week.
On the international front, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have returned to the squad after Ireland’s 6 Nations triumph at the weekend.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Sutherland to join Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotland prop Rory Sutherland will join the club this summer.
The British and Irish Lion joins the Scotstoun-outfit from French side Oyonnax, making the move to Scotstoun on a two-year deal as Franco Smith’s squad continues to take shape.
The confirmation of the loose-head prop’s move to Glasgow also comes on the eve of his involvement in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, where he is in contention to win his 30th cap for Scotland, part of the match day squad.
The 31-year-old Sutherland will bring a dynamic ball-carrying presence to the Warriors in addition to a solid platform at the set-piece.
After making his debut for Edinburgh in 2014, the prop went on to make 91 appearances in the capital before a summer switch to Worcester Warriors in 2021.
A short-term stint with Ulster followed after Worcester’s demise in 2022, running out on 12 occasions for the Irish province.
Sutherland’s form for Scotland across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns saw him selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, joining future Glasgow team-mate Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row options.
He became the first Scottish prop to represent the invitational squad since the late Tom Smith when selected for the first Test, playing just under an hour in the 22-17 victory over the Springboks.
Sutherland said: “The past couple of years have been tough since I had to leave Worcester. I’ve been at a few clubs and I haven’t had the consistency I’d have liked in my game. This move to Glasgow, and back to Scotland, offers me the chance to work on getting that back into my rugby.
“Glasgow is a really successful team, so to be offered the chance to come to Scotstoun is attractive for any player. For me, it allows me to come back home, and be closer to my family, which will work wonders for me.
“I’ve gotten close to some of the Glasgow players while in camp with Scotland and they talk highly of Franco and the culture in the club. I’m looking forward to that and getting back to the homeland!”
Head Coach Smith added: “We are pleased to be able to add a prop of Rory’s calibre to our squad ahead of next season.
“His qualities will make him a real asset to our playing group, as we continue to develop our strength in every position.
“We look forward to seeing him in action at Scotstoun over the next couple of seasons and we know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him to our club.”
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