Gavin Coombes double helps Munster beat Crusaders in front of over 40,000 fans

Adam Kyriacou
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Munster celebrate try against Crusaders in Cork.

Munster celebrate try against Crusaders in Cork.

Munster came out on top in the Clash of the Champions fixture at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, claiming a narrow 21-19 victory in front of over 40,000 supporters in Cork.

The match between the United Rugby Championship holders and Super Rugby Pacific champions saw the northern hemisphere come out on top over its southern club rival.

Coombes double

Two tries from second-row Gavin Coombes were added to by one from hooker Scott Buckley while fly-half Joey Carbery converted those three scores for the home side.

In reply the Crusaders‘ tries came through scrum-half Mitch Drummond, centre Dallas McLeod and lock Jamie Hannah. Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana added four points.

The Crusaders, who had former Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny in their starting team, were trailing 14-0 on 35 minutes but managed to go into the break seven points down.

Coombes scored both of Munster‘s tries in the opening stanza as his ability to crash over from close range was evident as the Crusaders could not cope with his power.

However, wings Chay Fihaki and Macca Springer combined before McLeod put scrum-half Drummond over for the score, which fly-half Kemara converted to make it 14-7.

Following a scoreless stretch after the interval, centre McLeod raced over to score on the left wing before Reihana’s successful extras tied the fixture up at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

But Munster replied on 70 minutes when replacement hooker Buckley powered over from close range after a series of Munster carries, restoring a seven-point advantage.

The Crusaders would not go away, though, and replacement Hannah’s try gave Reihana a tough shot to seal a draw with the clock in the red, but he was wide with his attempt.

The Super Rugby Pacific champions will now look to regroup ahead of their second and final game of a pre-season tour when they face Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Friday.

The teams

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Sean O’Brien, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shay McCarthy, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Jack O’Sullivan, 7 Alex Kendellen (c), 6 Ruadhán Quinn, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Gavin Coombes, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Eoghan Clarke, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 John Ryan, 19 Kamil Nowak, 20 Jack Daly, 21 Daniel Okeke, 22 Neil Cronin, 23 Tony Butler, 24 Rory Scannell, 25 Colm Hogan

Crusaders: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Dominic Gardiner, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Quinten Strange (c), 3 Owen Franks, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Ryan Crotty, 24 Josh Southall, 25 Heremaia Murray

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

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Crusaders Gavin Coombes