United Rugby Championship: Simon Zebo stars as Munster move up to third after win over Edinburgh

Simon Zebo scored a hat-trick as Munster moved to within one point of leaders Ulster after proving too strong for fellow title challengers Edinburgh, securing a 34-20 victory at Thomond Park.

The Irish province controlled the game from the off and earned a 13-0 lead thanks to Fineen Wycherley’s try and two Ben Healy penalties.

Although the Scots responded via Ramiro Moyano’s effort and Emiliano Boffelli’s three-pointer, Simon Zebo went over on the stroke of half-time to provide the hosts with some breathing space.

Zebo then crossed the whitewash in the third quarter and, although the visitors threatened a comeback when Henry Pyrgos scored, the Ireland wing completed his hat-trick to seal the victory late on.

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Young fly-half Healy knocked over a fifth-minute penalty and Edinburgh fell 10-0 behind in as many minutes. Second-row Wycherley powered over from a zippy Craig Casey pass.

Chris Cloete’s second turnover penalty was turned into three points by Healy, but Edinburgh hit back assuredly in the 23rd minute.

Back from Scotland camp, Blair Kinghorn and captain Mark Bennett carved through to send the rapid Moyano over to the right of the posts.

His Argentinian compatriot Boffelli added the extras, and he then closed the gap to three points with his opening penalty.

Munster managed to score on the stroke of half-time, lovely hands from Chris Farrell and Healy releasing Zebo to cross from close range.

Healy’s excellent conversion reopened the 10-point margin, before both sides blew chances on the restart.

Another well-struck Boffelli penalty had Edinburgh just 20-13 in arrears, the play quickly swinging from one end to the other.

Edinburgh suffered a double blow on the hour mark, Mike Haley feeding Zebo for his second converted try before the influential Bennett went off injured.

Foiling the visitors’ attempts to respond, Wycherley stole a line-out and then Dave Kilcoyne, on his 200th Munster appearance, forced a knock-on from Boan Venter.

The wily Pyrgos showed his experience with a clever snipe in under the posts for Boffelli to convert.

There was no denying it was Zebo’s night, though, as Healy sent the Corkman squeezing past Moyano for the clinching score, converted with aplomb by the number 10.

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