URC: Glasgow 31-22 Munster - Rotated Warriors bag bonus point win without Scotland stars

Munster dictated play for the first 5 minutes. Good running options allowed the visitors to make good breaks in Glasgow’s defensive line, quickly forcing the home side to defend a line out on their 5m line. The ball was taken well by Munster Brian Gleeson but referee Craig Evans’ hand went up, Glasgow kicked for a lineout and relieved some of their pressure.

The ball was quickly slipped out wide and Glasgow Josh McKay made great ground before slipping it to his fullback and releasing Glasgow’s other winger Ollie. Smith to score before being driven in to touch by the retreating Munster defenders. The on field decision was no try but after a quick TMO check the try was given, and a messy series of conversion attempts from Glasgow’ 10 Dan Lancaster later, Glasgow were found themselves with seven points despite a scary start. 7-0

Scotstoun were given another reason to cheer as Lancaster – who will be playing for Scotland A – intercepted a Munster pass just two phases after the restart. His legs whirred like roadrunner’s and he ran from the halfway line to secure another 7 between the Munster sticks. 14-0.

As the 11^th minute began it started to look like this could be a very high scoring game. Glasgow found themselves in their own half and Munster’s 9 Ethan Coughlan made an intercept of his own. With no Glasgow defensive cover he was able to easily slip into the corner and get some points on the board for the stags. 14-5.

As quickly as the scoring began, it halted. With the next score not coming for another 10 minutes. In conjunction with a series of penalties, and advantages, Glasgow hammered Munster’s defensive line through the phases; working up and down their try line. With the penalty offenses racking up, the crowd were looking for either a Munster card, or a try. Glasgow 5 Olujare Oguntibeju was what came forth first, barreling through to score their third of the night, and with another successful conversion from Lancaster. 21-5.

Scotstoun roared as a yellow card wash shown to Munster 14 Thaakir Abrahams, it was coming due to repeat infringements, but this incident was a deliberate knock on, just before half time. Glasgow had shown they didn’t need a man advantage to score against Munster, but a fourth try just before the end of the first half proved it certainly helped. The Munster infringement gave the Warriors a scrum in Munster’s half and they capitalized. Quick hands gave Glasgow’s 15 Josh McKay the ball and Lancaster’s secure boot meant Glasgow had secured a Bonus point before the ref blew for half time. 28-5.

The first ten of the second half was key for Munster, they wanted to keep Glasgow out of another score, begin to close the gap, and wait for their yellow card to come to an end. Their was a moment when it looked like Glasgow hooker had scored, but it was called back due to a knock on – keep Glasgow out of another score, tick.

Poor handling saw the ball pass between teams and neither side made much considerable progress. With several set pieces, the time ran into the 50^th minute and Munster found themselves full strength again. Objective 2, tick. Munster hit the hat-trick when 12 Dan Kelly received the ball and darted through Glasgow’s defense to finally score Munster’s second. With an ideal first ten minutes of the half, Munster were still 18 points behind the home side. 28-10.

In fear of repeating myself, Munster did the same again for the next ten. Another attempt from Glasgow was abated and Munster reversed the pressure. A Warriors lineout on Glasgow’s 22 was mishandled and Munster 8 Brian Gleeson caught the ball and charged through the Glasgow lineout. With plenty of space he had no difficulty getting the ball to ground over the line. Munster’s poor kicking continued with another unsuccessful conversion attempt, but Munster were slowly clawing their way back into the game. 28-15.

Munster were not going to bow out. With 15 minutes still to play, Munster maintained their pressure and wielded their momentum to force the warriors back on to the back foot yet again. A lineout in Glasgow’s 22 was defended and pushed back by the home side to a cheer of Scotstoun. However, Munster were able to maintain possession and swiftly sent the ball to the opposite side and into the waiting hands of their 11, Diarmuid Kilgallen, to secure Munster a bonus point. A first successful conversion from Munster this game put the game back within their reach, with the gap closing to 6. 28-22

The gap was not six points for long. A wind up dummy saw Glasgow in Munster’s danger zone one again – and a penalty in front of the sticks presented an opportunity for Glasgow and Lancaster to put Munster outside of a converted tries reach once again. 31-22

Moments after a powerful maul carried Glasgow 40 meters into Munster’s half GW 13 Stafford McDowall was named player of the match. Despite the dominant maul Munster earned themselves a scrum which was quickly blown away by the Glasgow forwards. Who were rewarded by some set-piece variety in the form of a lineout as the clock ticked over into the red. While the initial attempt was unsuccessful, Glasgow aimed to finish the game with a final show of dominance with a scrummage 5 meters out. A knock on off the head saw possession fall to Munster who grounded the ball. Full time at Scotstoun 31-22.

After Glasgow’s first try, Glasgow’s 10, Dan Lancaster had three attempts at his first conversion. During the first attempt, Munster’s 14 Thaakir Abrahams attempted to charge down Lancaster’s first attempt before he made his first movement.

This was very unpopular with the crowd at Scotstoun; referee Craig Evans did well to spot it and after having a word with the players in red, Lancaster was given a second attempt. With the referees eyes on him, Abrahams made the same mistake again, and despite Lancaster missing, Glasgow were given yet another opportunity to secure the extra points. After another conversation between the referee and Munster. Dan Lancaster stepped up for a third time and, now warmed up, successfully converted.

In the 20^th minute tensions soared high as Glasgow threatened another score. In front of Munster’s posts an altercation broke out involving most of the forwards from both sides. Despite not much violence and the camera quickly moving away from the incident, the kerfuffle was quickly tamed and the players calmed down and prepared for time back on the clock, but the moment highlighted the teams energies on the pitch.

Munster 10 Tony Butler was visibly frustrated 26 minutes into the first half. His kicking had been poor and it felt as if Munster were giving away plenty of silly penalties. He could be seen throwing the ball at the ground annoyed after an other penalty was given away.

The main Glasgow team were hanging out in the stands supporting their teammates. Just because they’re in Scotland camp doesn’t mean they cant come and support their team & mates! Sione Tuipolotu was very vocally cheering on the squad and supporting them as well as he could from in the stands. Captains lead on and off the pitch.

The game today gave us three debuts for Glasgow in Dylan Cockburn, Matthew Urwin and Jack Oliver. They came on with only four minutes left to play, but Franco Smith said “I thought the try that got chalked off would have put as away from that, and I wanted to give the guys a little bit more time omn the pitch making their debut, but we made it hard for ourselves”; and hoped they would have been able to go on a bit earlier.

Bonus Fact: Glasgow have only lost two home games in the URC since the 2023 season, and this was their ninth victory on the bounce, with their last defeat being away in November against the Scarlets.