Munster Dominate Leinster: Player Ratings from Thrilling Victory
Munster secured a hard-fought victory over Leinster, showcasing a dominant forward performance and clinical finishing. Several Munster players stood out, earning high praise for their contributions to the team’s success. Here’s a breakdown of player ratings from the match:
STARTING XV:
1. Edwin edogbo – 7.5
Strong in the lineout but fluffed his lines with the Leinster try line beckoning after a poor pass. Provided plenty of ballast and looks far fitter since returning from injury.
2.Fineen Wycherley – 8
A monster at the breakdown at times, making 18 tackles to underline his work rate and engine.
3. Tadhg Beirne – 8.5
A quiet first 25 minutes but his influence grew as the match wore on. In full wrecking-ball mode in the second half, as only Beirne can be.
4. Jack O’Donoghue - 7
A real nuisance on the deck and one of the main reasons Leinster couldn’t get quick ball.
5. Brian Gleeson – 8
Dragged Munster back into it with the away side’s first try from a pick-and-go under the posts. Carried with intent and was a constant physical presence untill his afternoon was cut short.
REPLACEMENTS:
6. Lee barron – 6
Steady if unspectacular off the bench against his old team.
7. Jeremy Loughman - 7
Shored up the scrum and carried hard. A strong impact showing.
8. Ronan Foxe – 6
Did his job without fuss and helped steady things late on.
9. Jean Kleyn – 8
put in one huge hit on 60 minutes and set the tone physically. The Bok was good value and a major factor in Munster’s dominance up front.
10. Gavin Coombes – 8
Played a big role after replacing Gleeson, his hold-up on van der Flier a momentum-shifting moment.
11. Paddy Patterson – 7
kept the tempo high and ensured Munster didn’t lose rhythm after Coughlan’s exit.
12. JJ Hanrahan – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
13. Alex nankivell - 7.5
Excellent from the bench after coming on for Smith, making Leinster defenders miss despite playing out of position on the wing.
This result considerably impacts the United Rugby Championship standings, bolstering Munster’s playoff hopes and demonstrating their ability to compete with – and defeat – top-tier opposition like Leinster. The performance underscores Munster’s forward strength and tactical versatility, positioning them as strong contenders for silverware this season.
