Edinburgh 29 - 14 Munster: Rampant Edinburgh end champions’ winning streak

It was not just the fact of the victory, but the manner of it that was so impressive, especially after falling to such a disappointing defeat a Aironi in Italy last weekend.

Edinburgh commanded the game from start to finish, scored two tries to one, had their back row running rampant and the pack dominating despite having the worse of the set scrums. Edinburgh looked for all the world as if they should be sitting at the top of the table rather than bobbing about at the bottom.

They made three changes from the bad Italian job, bringing in Matt Scott at outside centre on his 21st birthday, shifting Jim Thompson to full-back and shoring up the front five with Lewis Niven at tighthead and Grant Gilchrist at lock.

Two-times European champions Munster looked to continue their winning habit, resting ex-All Black winger Doug Howlett among ten rotational changes to the starting XV, only one of which was down to injury. It was tactical fine-tuning that backfired spectacularly as Edinburgh quickly raced into a 16-point lead and, although Munster reeled them in a little before half-time, stretched away and were never in danger of being overtaken. Flanker David Denton was named man of the match for a supercharged performance.

First blood went to the home side after three minutes when Munster held on in the tackle and captain Greig Laidlaw knocked over the penalty from 20 metres. Then Tim Visser went charging up the left wing and set up Laidlaw’s second penalty, from 35 metres this time, before Laidlaw made it three after Munster went offside at a ruck.

Munster just couldn’t get into the game at all. Their frustration grew as stand off Ian Keatley’s kicked out on the full and abruptly killed what might have been a promising move. Then Edinburgh lock Sean Cox barged upfield and set up Matt Scott to find the perfect angle through a couple of weak tackles that allowed him to celebrate his birthday in style with a try. Laidlaw converted.

Munster finally got on the board in the 25th minutes when Keatley landed a simple penalty from close range. And he claimed another three points as Munster turned on the power at a set scrum to win the penalty.

The margin was further reduced a few minutes later at the next scrum when Edinburgh were penalised again and Keatley made no mistake from 20 metres. But Edinburgh increased the gap in the second half with Laidlaw’s fourth penalty after Stuart McInally stole the ball in a lineout in his own half, David Denton carried well over the advantage line and Munster could only stop Edinburgh illegally.

There was no stopping the next try as Edinburgh took the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. It began in their 22 when replacement prop Shaun Knight, on loan from Gloucester, won a turnover, fly half Gregor Hunter chipped over the advancing Munster line and gathered behind them before releasing Lee Jones to cut through the defence. Laidlaw picked a pass of his boots and got it to hooker Steve Lawrie who crashed over the line. Laidlaw converted.

Edinburgh were riding the wave of their success, retaining possession, creating openings, kicking intelligently and enjoying themselves hugely. With 20 minutes left, the game was won and Edinburgh lost a little of the concentration that had served them so well. Danny Barnes squeezed over in the corner for a try awarded after a conference between referee and touch judge.

Laidlaw kicked a fifth penalty to emphasise Edinburgh’s superiority on the night and earn his team a standing ovation from the crowd at the final whistle

Scorers: Edinburgh – Tries: Scott, Lawrie. Cons: Laidlaw 2. Pens: Laidlaw 5. Munster – Tries: Barnes. Pens: Keatley 3.

Edinburgh: J Thompson; L Jones, M Scott, J King, T Visser; G Hunter, G Laidlaw; K Traynor, S Lawrie, L Niven, G Gilchrist, S Cox, D Denton, R Grant, S McInally. Subs used: A Walker, R Hislop, S Knight, E Lozada, H Watson, C Leck, P Godman, T Brown.

Munster: S Deasey; J Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; I Keatly, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes, D Foley, M O’Driscoll, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, P Butler. Subs used: M Sherry, J Ryan, S Archer, I Nagle, P O’Mahony, D Williams, D Barnes, S Zebo.