Dragons v Munster: Five takeaways as visitors benefit from Ireland’s ‘Leinster bias’ after forward duo’s ‘relentless’ performances
Forward trio Gavin Coombes, Alex Kendellen and Thomas Ahern, who impressed against the Scarlets, in action for Munster.
Following a dominant 38-19 triumph for Munster over the Dragons here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship encounter at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
The top line
Munster produced a sparkling first half display to boost their URC title hopes, hammering an abysmal Dragons outfit 38-19.
While the Welsh region were utterly abject, that should not detract from a thrilling effort from the Irish province, who raced into a 26-0 lead in the first quarter and, by the end of the opening 40 minutes, found themselves 31-0 ahead.
The combination between forwards and backs was spellbinding at times, as evidenced by the opening try for Diarmuid Kilgallen, who latched onto Tom Ahern’s run and well-timed pass. Alex Kendellen then crossed the whitewash after good work from Gavin Coombes before the move of the match saw Ben O’Connor touch down.
Two minutes later and Munster were awarded a penalty try, leading to a yellow card for Lloyd Evans. It rather threatened to be a record-breaking evening, albeit for all the wrong reasons for the hosts, especially when Dian Bleuler went over after 32 minutes, but fortunately for the Dragons, the second period saw an improvement from their perspective.
The Welsh side were better and showed far more intensity, but they were helped by a string of injuries to several Munster players. That enabled them to restore some pride through Chris Coleman, Harry Wilson and Dane Blacker tries, but it was ultimately a chastening evening for the Dragons.
Player availability
There has been accusations of Leinster bias in regards to the Ireland set-up, as well as the Irish Rugby Football Union in general, as fans decry the lopsided nature of the current Test squad. It is completely understandable as supporters, who fervently back their players, want to see them involved at the highest level, but there is a benefit to their lack of international involvement.
Munster found that out on Saturday night. While call-ups for Tadhg Beirne, Calvin Nash, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Peter O’Mahony leaves a slight hole in their team, they have not exactly been decimated. They have several players on the fringes of Test rugby, such as Coombes, Kendellen and Ahern, but Munster ultimately reaped the benefit of their international disappointment.
Whether the Six Nations squad announcement played a part in those individuals’ performances, only they could really say, but they were certainly men on a mission. Coombes and Kendellen were particularly exceptional in the first half and linked superbly for the latter’s try, while Ahern was a ubiquitous presence on the field.
Coombes and Kendellen
Quite frankly, these two back-row tyros deserve their own section. Ireland’s current first choice openside Josh van der Flier has become renowned for his sheer relentlessness on both sides of the ball but Kendellen did a rather good impression of that at Rodney Parade.
The openside was brutal in the carry as the Dragons defence struggled to get to grips with the physicality he was bringing to the field in attack. He was equally effective without the ball, doing as every quality back-row operator should and throwing himself about defensively.
Kendellen also dovetailed nicely with Coombes, combining beautifully for the flanker’s score and roaming around the field in tandem. They are two players who look readymade for Test rugby but, as of yet, Andy Farrell and Easterby have not been convinced.
Of course, even if the Munster loose forwards were to make it into the wider squad, they would have two of the modern day greats, Caelan Doris and Van der Flier, in their way, but they can count themselves unfortunate at not being involved with Ireland in some capacity.
Dreadful Dragons
There have been a fair few lows for the Welsh region this season – and over the past few years in fact – but their first-half display was pretty shameful. They currently reside at the bottom of the United Rugby Championship table with just one win in 10 matches and, on this evidence, it doesn’t look like improving any time soon.
Since the URC was created, they have not finished higher than 15th which rather tells its own story. You feel for the long suffering supporters who have shown tremendous loyalty, yet they have been treated to a succession of poor performances.
Granted, the individual quality is lacking within the squad, but on Saturday they folded all too easily. Munster were very good in the first half but the lack of intensity and physicality, allied by their porous defence, made for an embarrassing 40 minutes. Thankfully, there was a slight improvement after the break as they touched down three times, although you wonder how much the visitors’ high attrition rate played a part in that.
Munster revived
It wasn’t too long ago that the Irish province were at their lowest ebb. Their head coach – Graham Rowntree – departed, the performances were dreadful and their results weren’t much better, but it is now looking much more positive for the Munstermen.
Only in December were they succumbing meekly to their arch-rivals Leinster, but since then the old Munster spirit seems to have returned. In the Champions Cup, they showed tremendous fight to narrowly defeat Saracens in a tight contest at Thomond Park. Munster then followed that up with arguably an even better display a week later considering it was away from home as they agonisingly succumbed 34-32 to defending Premiership champions Northampton Saints.
There is still much work to do for the Irish province but, having moved into seventh, just four points behind third place Bulls, and secured a place in the next round of the Champions Cup, things are looking up for Ian Costello’s men.