Munster 41-14 Ulster: Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne injury woes as John Hodnett scores four

Munster suffered a late injury blow in the lead up to kick-off, as star play-maker Crowley was withdrawn after picking up an injury in the warm-up. He was replaced by JJ Hanrahan, as Clayton McMillan's team adapted to the sudden change to the script. The injuries continued in the early goings, with lock Jean Kleyn taken off with a HIA, as Edwin Edogbo replaced him after just four minutes, before yo-yoing back on for Kleyn who would sustain a bicep injury.

Such disruption played into Ulster's favour, as the Belfast side were over the try-line after 13 minutes. A quick pass from stand-in captain Michael Lowry found Aitzol Anzana-King on the wing, with the debutant on hand to finish the swift strike move. Jake Flannery's conversion handed the visitors a seven-point lead, but Munster would soon return fire as momentum changed hands.

Munster back row John Hodnett would bag himself a brace across six blistering minutes, as he twice muscled his way over the line to get his province in the lead. The open-side flanker grounded a maul and finished a series of short drives, to capitalise upon an extra man advantage with Tom Brigg in the sin bin. A hit and a miss from Hanrahan established a 12-7 Munster lead, as the sides departed for half-time.

Munster weathered through further injuries early in the second half, as Tom Farrell and Oli Jager were withdrawn from the physical encounter. However, the hosts would not faulter, as replacement back row Alex Kendellen spied a gap at the back of a ruck, and powered in to score seven minutes after the break. The 25-year-old backed this up with his second score just six minutes later, with a gutsy carry through the heart of the Ulster defense.

The pick of the bunch then followed for Munster, who delivered a 'Try of the Season' contender just before the hour mark. An audacious behind-the-back pass from Craig Casey started the move, before two offloads kept the ball alive. Hodnett collected the ball out wide with plenty to do, yet the back row had the gas in the tank to finish the stunning team move and secure his hat-trick.

Ulster managed to lift their spirits after 64 minutes, as a thunderous rolling maul laid the foundations for replacement hooker John Andrew to score. Flannery added the conversion to reduce the deficit, before Munster's man of the moment John Hodnett cantered home for an incredible fourth try for his province. With the floodgates open, Kendellen completed his hat-trick, as he raced down-field to ground the ball over the whitewash in a breathless display of pace and desire.

TRIES: 7 (Hodnett 23', 29', 55', 67', Kendellen 47', 53', 68')

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Hanrahan 30', 53', 68')

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

TRIES: 2 (King 13', Andrew 65')

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Flannery 13', 65')

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Brigg 22')

RED CARDS: 0

Munster suffered a significant loss ahead of their United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster, as fly half Jack Crowley was withdrawn from the squad. This followed an injury in the warm-up to the Ireland 10, with JJ Hanrahan propelled into the starting XV in his place.

JJ Hanrahan was a travelling reserve and not initially listed within the Munster match day 23, with Munster head coach Clayton McMillan opting for a 6-2 split, with scrum half Ben O'Donovan and centre Dan Kelly to provide the back-line coverage from the replacements. The extent of Crowley's injury was revealed to be a 'dead leg', as McMillan confirmed that the Ireland international 'could not generate any power', with the decision to remove the out-half coming at the last possible moment.

This is welcomed news for Munster and Ireland fans, who will be delighted to know that the sharpshooter is not set for an extended break on the side-lines. With a pivotal URC run-in for the regular season before the play-offs begin, and the first-ever Nations Championship summer series beginning in July, Crowley needs to be fit and firing for both club and country.

A significant milestone was achieved by one of Munster's favourite sons, as wing Calvin Nash led out the Red Army to mark his 100th appearance for the province. The century comes just a few days removed from the news that Nash has signed a fresh contract to keep him at the club, with Nash staying put in red until at least the end of the 2027/28 United Rugby Championship season.

Nash exploded out of the tunnel to a roar of applause, before Munster captain Tadhg Beirne spearheaded a settled team that had just one change made from the side that beat Benetton a week ago. Nash was a real live-wire around the park, as he commanded the ball for a series of rapid carries along the right wing. However, disaster would strike mid-way through the first half, as the newly minted centurion would suffer an injury in the lead up to John Hodnett's second try.

Nash cascaded onto a crash ball in the centre of the pitch, yet came off worse from the heavy collision over the Ulster gain-line. Nash immediately began limping as the Munster medics sprung into action - they certainly had their work cut out for them today. Clayton McMillan confirmed after the match that it was in fact a hamstring injury to the centurion.

There was plenty of selections for Ulster head coach Richie Murphy to navigate, with 15 changes made from the side that suffered a tough loss to Leinster last time out. Ulster sustained an assortment of new injuries in the defeat to the Dubliners, with Wallabies prop Angus Bell side-lined, along with Tom O'Toole, Scott Wilson, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite and Bryn Ward.

These players were added onto the mounting injury list, that also included Ireland internationals Nick Timoney and Rob Baloucoune, as well as James McNabney, Rob Herring, Rory McGuire and Stewart Moore. As a result, Murphy flung several academy graduates into the Irish inter-provincial clash, as flankers James McKillop and Tom Brigg, and wing Aitzol Arenzana-King made their Ulster debuts.

Arenzana-King immediatly took the spotlight, as the promising Ireland age-grade wing raced away to bag himself his first Ulster try after just 13 minutes. The former Leinster man pinned his ears back and broke along the wing from the 22m line, to finish off the attacking flourish with a stunning dive over the line.

Whilst Arenzana-King was a bright spark from Ulster new generation, back row Tom Brigg would have wanted a smoother start to life in the URC. The 21-year-old was sent to the sin bin for going straight off his feet at the break-down, with Munster able to grab back-to-back tries in his absence and take the lead mid-way through the first half. After the match, Ulster head coach branded the sin bin decision as 'harsh', in what was a pivotal moment at Thomond Park.

There was plenty of excitement surrounding the replacements, as New Zealand scrum half Ben O'Donovan was primed to make his first home appearance for Munster. The 21-year-old arrived in Ireland from the land of the All Blacks earlier this month, after coming through the Linwood and Canterbury set-up and was previously been on the books of the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

O'Donovan made his Munster debut in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Exeter Chiefs, before making a second replacement appearance away to Benetton. Having ran out for Munster in Devon and Treviso, it was high time for O'Donovan to make his mark upon the turf at Thomond Park. The Kiwi had to bide his time to get out onto the pitch, as he replaced Ireland nine Craig Casey after 69 minutes.

However, the newcomer from New Zealand thought that he had scored his first try in Munster colours just two minutes later - as did the entirity of the Thomond Park faithful. The replacement scrum half sprinted up in support of wing Andrew Smith, who had broken into the back-field with just the full-back to beat. Smith unselfishly shipped the past to O'Donovan, who had open grass to in his wake as he crossed the whitewash.

However, the match officials would curtail the excitement of Munster's newest arrival, as referee Sam Grove-White sent a possible obstruction decision to be reviewed by the TMO. Unfortunately for O'Donovan, there was an obstruction in the lead up to his try, which meant that his efforts would be chalked off much to the annoyance of the Munster supporters.

After Ulster were dealt a string of injuries following their derby clash with Leinster last weekend, it was Munster's time to rip-up the play-book with several high profile injuries taking place in today's match. Maybe it is down to the out-right intensity of these Irish inter-provincial matches, but the Munster medics worked overtime today at Thomond Park.

The high-vis personnel were deployed before the match had even kicked off, as Jack Crowley suffered a knock in the lead up to the opening whistle. Munster lock Jean Kleyn was withdrawn after just four minutes for a head injury assessment, and returned before sustaining a bicep injury. Calvin Nash then had his unfortunate hamstring issue end his 100th Munster cap, in what was a tough blow for the centurion.

The knocks kept coming for the men in red, with centre Tom Farrell next to hit the side-lines as he looked in some clear discomfort with a shoulder injury. The Ireland midfielder landed awkwardly in a tackle, and had a real grimace etched across his face as he headed for the sheds. Then Munster were hit with their second Head Injury Assessment, as tight-head prop Oli Jager was taken off following a wince-inducing collision.

There were further injuries for Munster, with Edwin Edogbo and Tadhg Beirne also showing cause for concern, as the medical staff tended to both locks. Beirne headed to the Thomond Park stands whilst Edogbo finished the match, with Munster's injury count mounting after the inter-pro showdown. McMillan confirmed that Beirne is gingerly testing out his leg after a nasty fall, yet is on his feet.

With the end of the United Rugby Championship regular season coming in over the horizon, the attention has begun to turn to the incoming Nations Championship throughout July. The Ireland team head down to the Southern Hemisphere, with three Test matches lined up against Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

First up on our five-man short-list for the Ireland hopefuls who impressed, is Ulster fullback Michael Lowry, who took on the captain's armband to lead the injury depleted province down to Limerick. The outside back took the match by the scruff of it's neck, with an electric first step keeping the Munster defenders guessing as he approached the gain-line.

The 27-year-old has a sole Ireland cap and two international tries to his name, coming in a clash against Italy back in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, in which he scored a brace. He added to his international honours back in November, as he started at full-back for Ireland A in the win over Spain.

Ulster were bouyed by the return of their full-back, who made his comeback from injury to free up some space upon the stacked injury wards. Lowry took up the responsibities of leading the inexperienced and re-shuffled Ulster side in his stride, and commanded the attack to get his side into dangerous front-foot positions. A first half assist summarised his efforts, as he played in Aitzol Arezana-King for his first try in Ulster colours.

With four tries to his name upon an unforgettable day at Thomond Park, John Hodnett must have caught the attention of Andy Farrell for an Ireland senior debut. The 27-year-old has worn the green jersey before, albeit being some time ago during his days in the U20s set-up. Hodnett has long knocked on the door for an Irish call-up, and he near kicked the door off the hinges with his performance today.

The open-side flanker got Ireland's point-scoring underway, with a tide-turning try after 23 minutes. With momentum on Munster backs, Hodnett rallied his side forward for a second score some six minutes later, to get his province into the lead for the first time in the contest. The back row would return across the whitewash to complete a hat-trick just before the hour mark, as he finished the astonishing team move along the right hand touch-line.

His fourth try would follow as Ulster's floodgates had been opened, with a brilliant display of individual pace to break along the left wing with his fuel tank in the red. Having been such a crucial finisher along the Munster wings, legendary flyer Simon Zebo was quick to quip how it had been a long time since they'd seen that level of finishing at Thomond Park, in a nice post-match exchange between the two.

After making his Ireland debut in the 2026 Six Nations win over Italy, Edwin Edogbo wants to build upon his eleven minutes of experience he's achieved in the green jersey. Edogbo's arduous journey to the Test level has been well documented at this point, with a series of devastating injuries delaying and preventing the Munster lock from getting the green light.

However, with his debut under his belt, Edogbo is now pushing for the Ireland squad return. He delivered in spades as Munster put Ulster to the sword, as he was flung into the fray far earlier than expected in this Irish inter-provincial clash. Edogbo was named amongst the replacements, yet was called upon after only four minutes as Jean Kleyn suffered a head injury.

Edogbo ensured that this frantic Irish derby was calm and succinct at the set-piece, as he collaborated well with Tadhg Beirne to take control of the line-out. With the Nations Championship coming in over the horizon, Edogbo could well reunite with his Munster teammate in the Ireland engine room should Andy Farrell decide to capitalise upon the momentum of the in-form Cobh man.

After arriving in Belfast following his break-through into the senior game at Leinster, there was plenty of excitement around Aitzol Arezana-King who lined-up for his first cap in Ulster colours. It took just 13 minutes before the flying wing got his first try for his new province, with the move up to Belfast off to a strong start from a personal perspective.

With such a stacked roster of Ireland internationals, you can understand why the promising young wing decided to up-roots and move from Dublin to Belfast, in an attempt to further his on-field minutes in the URC. This is by no means an anomaly for the Dubliners, as Leinster will be withiout Ciaran Frawley next season, who heads out West to Connacht in a similar attempt to maximise his game-time.

Arezana-King was impressive today at Thomond Park, as he brought a bright spark along the touch-line with his first step. A talented all-round footballer, the young Ulster wing showcased a tremendous knack for finding space, and was an impressive threat in the air.

It's rare to see a player score a hat-trick of tries, and not be awarded the Player of the Match Award. Such has been the case for Munster back row Alex Kendellen today, as the replacement forward was pipped to the award by John Hodnett's four tries. Kendellen made his Ireland debut this past Summer, as he was apart of a new era of internationals that were ushered into the camp in the absence of the Lions stars.

Kendellen rose to the occassion, as Ireland racked up a historic margin of men's Test match victory away to a flattened Portugal team some 106-7. Kendellen was at the heart of Munster's second half resurgence, as he roared into life for back-to-back tries just six minutes apart. You can see the passion for his province burning upon his face, as he emptied the tank to ground an exhaustive kick-chase, before celebrating to the fans with his customary fist pump.

Whilst there is no denying that the Ireland back row ranks are rather stacked, this Summer could well be the time for Kendellen to build upon his break-through. He's on the radar, and should he maintain such impressive performances upon a testing schedule for Munster, then Kendellen could well make the plane down to Australia, for the opening clash with Japan in Newcastle, New South Wales.