Butler Has Final Say As Munster Pip Connacht In 10-Try Thriller

Last season’s table toppers Munster had to come from behind four times before seeing off Connacht for a 35-33 BKT United Rugby Championship win at Thomond Park.

Debutant half-backs Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy inspired a rejuvenated Connacht to lead 12-0 initially, and then 19-14 at half-time despite Santiago Cordero’s sin-binning.

Murphy squeezed in his second try, replying to Munster scores from player-of-the-match Alex Nankivell and Mike Haley. The provincial rivals eventually shared out 10 tries, as both attacks prospered on the URC’s opening weekend.

Connacht replacement David Hawkshaw and Cathal Forde cancelled out efforts from John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes, but Tony Butler, Munster’s reserve out-half, coolly converted Shane Daly’s 69th-minute try to decide the outcome.

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree was pleased that his charges put a sluggish start behind them, praising their character afterwards and how they ‘wrestled back control’. However, new out-half Billy Burns’ shoulder injury is a worry so early in the season.

Fast-starting Connacht certainly went close to adding to their famous Limerick wins from 2015 and 2021, but the brace of bonus points still marked a positive first outing for Pete Wilkins’ men, who lost 47-12 at Thomond back in May.

Some early individual mistakes, including a mistimed lineout, prevented Munster from pressing for the opening score. They had newcomers Burns, Thaakir Abrahams, and Tom Farrell, the ex-Connacht centre, all starting in the back-line.

Ireland star Mack Hansen made his first competitive appearance since January, having recovered from a shoulder injury, and he showed some neat touches as Connacht lifted the pace in attack.

Cutting inside Craig Casey, Murphy’s snappy 13th-minute break from a scrum saw him reach the Munster 22. He linked with Shayne Bolton close to the left touchline, and Ioane was rewarded for his support run, crashing over in the corner.

It was a brilliantly-worked first try from the visitors, showcasing the attacking intent that Murphy, the former Leinster scrum half and Munster loan signing, and Ioane can bring. The once-capped All Black missed the touchline conversion.

Connacht moved into a 12-point lead, midway through the first half, with Darragh Murray’s turnover penalty launching them forward. Another quick-witted attack ended with Murphy raiding in behind the posts for a seven-pointer.

It took a TMO review for the Bray youngster’s effort to be confirmed. He did really well to collect Ioane’s offload on the bounce, with slick hands too from Connacht’s new captain Cian Prendergast and Hansen in the build-up.

Despite Josh Murphy’s man-and-ball tackle on Coombes, Munster began to make inroads. Farrell and Casey provided the attacking spark. Once they cut down on the handling errors, Rowntree’s charges were able to profit from Cordero’s yellow card.

Farrell’s excellent offload saw him combine crisply with Ruadhán Quinn near the left touchline, before Connacht’s Argentinian international full-back went too high on the advancing Casey.

Nankivell showed how clinical Munster can be when driving low to break free from Conor Oliver’s tackle and get in behind the posts. Burns’ straightforward conversion closed the gap to 12-7.

Although Fineen Wycherley was held up shortly afterwards, there was no denying Haley in the 31st minute. Hodnett’s offload off the ground released the tricky full-back into space, and he weaved through and stretched out of a Bolton tackle to touch down.

The conversion from Burns edged Munster in front for the first time, and Connacht had some readjusting to do with Bolton, an Emerging Ireland call-up, unfortunately injurying himself in that challenge. Hawkshaw came on, with debutant Piers O’Conor shifting to the wing.

With the interval looming, Murphy and Ioane took centre stage again. The former’s snipe and inviting pass put the New Zealander slicing through from 45 metres out, and a nicely-delayed return delivery released Murphy for a try which Forde converted.

Nonetheless, Munster managed to erase the five-point deficit with a solid start to the second period. Despite Burns missing touch from two penalties, he found the right corner the next time, and some forward pressure led to Hodnett crossing from a John Ryan pass.

Burns’ curling conversion for a 21-19 advantage was followed by a penalty miss from Ioane, with the ball bouncing back off the right hand post. Hansen rushed in to claim it, though, and replacement Oisin Dowling went close to burrowing over.

Connacht did bag their try-scoring bonus point from the goal-line dropout, as quick hands out to the left, including a perfectly-timed Dave Heffernan pass, saw Hawkshaw’s burst of acceleration catch out the Munster cover for a classy score, converted by Ioane.

The tit-for-tat scoring continued with Casey inspiring the hosts’ own bonus point try. He was central to a free-flowing attack, setting up replacement Alex Kendellen who laid off for Coombes to barrel his way over in the 58th minute.

On for the injured Burns (shoulder), Ennis native Butler swung over the conversion from the left to make it 28-26. Yet, with Connacht’s forward-heavy bench packing a punch, Forde fired back just a few minutes later.

A superb offload from Hansen, and O’Conor’s chase of his own kick through, led to a five-metre scrum for the westerners. Forde then evaded Butler’s grasp and had support from O’Conor as he powered over from close range. Ioane added the extras.

Crucially, Munster were able to match their opponents’ five-try tally. Busy centre Nankivell’s pass over the top took over two defenders, allowing Haley to fling the ball wide for Daly to get over ahead of Hansen.

The home fans roared their approval after Butler nailed his second conversion, from 28 metres out on the left. Connacht misfired in response, with replacement Caolin Blade knocking on at a scrum, and Ioane also missed touch when going for broke with a late penalty.