After an incredible victory last week to keep their 100% record at Thomand Park, it was Leicester’s turn to host this leg of the Pool Four European Champions Cup. Munster, who have twice before left Welford Road with a win in the bag (2003 quarter-final and 2006) sit on equal points with Stade Francais in pool four behind Tigers. With Richard Cockerill describing Munster’s visit as “a massive challenge”, there was no chance of Tigers underestimating their Irish counterparts. In front of a home crowd the weekend before Christmas, it was sure to be a festive yet fierce encounter.
Freddie Burns (on his first return to action after sustaining a fractured jaw) kicked to start the game, with Munster going high to collect. Tigers looked quick out the blocks, turning over the ball and progressing with pace up field, however a knock on gave Munster the first scrum of the game and used the blindside to gather momentum. Another scrum, this time in Leicester territory, collapsed thanks to Leicester’s front row, and once reset, allowed the men in red and white to stretch their legs. Brendon O’Connor came in offside, and allowed Munster their first chance at the posts. A packed Welford Road fell silent as Ian Keatley sent the ball gliding through for the game’s first points, 0-3.
Dan Cole struggled to stay on his feet as another scrum came down, giving Munster more time with the ball. A battle of possession finally saw Munster get a run down field, before Denis Hurtley hit a Lachlan McCaffery/Brendon O’Connor brick wall, which sent shockwaves across the Midlands. Moments later, Keatley kicked for a further three points, although it drifted wide into the new Caterpillar Stand and the score remained 0-3. Ten minutes of battling from one 22 to another, Tigers earned themselves a lineout, and a swift reverse pass by Ben Youngs saw him spin it to speedster Telusa Veainu, who sought holes in Munster’s defensive line. He was brought down, however, by a tackle round the neck, which left Tigers in possession on the five metre line. Showing their strength and solidity, they forwards drove their opponents back and captain Ed Slater touched down for his ninth Tigers try, and the first try of the game. 5-3 evolved into 7-3 with an easy conversion by Burns.
With 15 minutes of the first half left, both sides had adrenaline pumping and looked ferocious in attack. Munster came within inches of the try line, but when referee Jerome Garces penalised them for not releasing, Tigers replied with an almighty surge into the Irishmen’s 22. Peter Betham looked sharp whilst Goneva gave Munster worries down the right wing. However it was Burns who added the next points to the tally as Anthony Foley’s men were penalised for not rolling away. As the half time whistle blew, Leicester’s Dom Barrow received a yellow card for playing the ball in an offside position and Munster earned a further three points through Keatley, taking the score to 10-6.
Tigers came out for the second half a man down, thanks to Barrow’s sin bin stint, but they failed to make an issue of it. Francis Saili had a burst through the Tigers pack but was caught round the ankles by Betham before he made the run any more dangerous. Munster could have had more opportunity to get to the line if it were not for their indiscipline. A forward pass gave Tigers a scrum, and although their front row held strong , they were cited for wheeling the scrum and gave Keatley a look at the posts. The kick went wide for the score to stay at 10-6, and Tigers were replenished to a full XV with the return of Barrow. O’Connor made a strong break into Munster’s territory, carrying the ball to within five metres of the try line. A pass out to Adam Thompstone deteriorated with a lack of pace, and Tigers were punished for not rolling away.
Barely minutes were spent at each end of the field as both sides charged into each other’s territory in a bid to clinch some points. Burns couldn’t add three to Leicester’s scoreboard as his penalty kick spun wide of the posts just before the hour mark. Fraser Balmain came on for his eighth appearance this season in place of Dan Cole, adding fresh legs to Cockerill’s forward set as Tigers mauled the ball towards the line. A terrific pass of hands gave the Tigers’ supporters hope, but a knock-on by Ed Slater awarded Munster a scrum on the five metre line. Tom Youngs hooked it back, but his brother Ben lost it and Saili made a sensational 80 metre sprint down field to go over for Munster. Hot on his heels, however, was Tongan international Veainu who pulled him down as he passed to Simon Zebo, who in turn came crashing down thanks to Thompstone. Welford Road exploded as Gerome awarded Tigers the ball as Munster failed to roll away at the breakdown. In an astonishing turn of events, Foley’s side went from being electrically charged to easily challenged, as Betham picked a quick line inside Keith Earls and subsequently passed onto Goneva who jogged under the posts for Leicester’s second. A simple conversion for Burns, Tigers extended their lead to 17-6.
Munster’s attempt at an answer back was brought to a blunt end by Tigers’ defensive line, who have reaped the benefits of new coaches Scott Hansen and Aaron Mauger. A number of Munster replacements gave them new found strength in the set piece, whilst Ben Youngs was the target of rapturous applause as he left the field in place of Sam Harrison. It looked like the deal was done, and whilst Munster mounted another attack, the ball was overturned and Harrison cleared to gain vital ground for the home side. A final scrum on the stroke of full time gave no way to either side, and Tommy Bell kicked into touch for the whistle to be blown. Final score, Leicester Tigers 17, Munster 6, with Leicester’s full back Telusa Veainu deservedly awarded Man of the Match.
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