Lions face daunting Leinster playoff clash after Munster defeat

Munster have secured their place in the playoffs of the United Rugby Championship after coming away with a 24-17 win over the Lions on Saturday night.

That win means Ulster just miss out on a playoff spot, while the Lions will travel to Leinster for their quarter-final clash.

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The Lions spent the early part of the match on the attack, but coughed up the ball just a few metres out after several phases.

Munster cleared downfield, securing a brilliant 50:22 and, from the resulting lineout, scored with their first attack of the match as Evan O'Connell forced his way over for a converted try to give the home side a 7-0 lead.

Baying on by a vociferous home crowd, Munster thought they had their second in the 12th minute, but the Lions did brilliantly to hold No 8 Brian Gleeson up over the line when he looked more likely to score.

A further attack from Munster turned into the Lions’ first score of the night as Quan Horn did brilliantly to read a long pass, intercept, and streak away from just inside his own half to level things up at 7-7.

A JJ Hanrahan penalty saw Munster back into a 10-7 lead in the 22nd minute in what was becoming a hard-fought battle between the two packs.

Munster then lost right winger Andrew Smith to a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown, giving the Lions a numerical advantage.

With the Lions looking to take advantage of that, Munster were down to 13 men when Seán O’Brien was binned for exactly the same thing with the visitors on the attack in the 30th minute.

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The Lions set up an attacking lineout five metres from the Munster line, but the Irish side’s defence not only stopped the maul but secured a turnover, much to the delight of the home fans.

The Lions finally made their extra two-man advantage work in the 35th minute when they engineered space down the left to send winger Kelly Mpeku over the line.

Chris Smith added the extras from the tee as the Lions led 14-10.

13-man Munster can't keep up with the Lions 🦁💥

Kelly Mpeku gets his first of the match 👏

📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/cpdZIcQnOR

But Munster weren’t done for the half, and when the Lions coughed up possession through a kick downfield, the Irish side spent the next four minutes on the attack.

They were rewarded in the 40th minute when scrumhalf Craig Casey snuck over the line for a converted try after the hooter to give Munster a 17-14 lead at the break.

Munster extended their lead in the 54th minute, but the Lions will be kicking themselves as it was initially the visitors on the attack.

They were penalised five metres from the Munster line for cross-running, allowing the home side to clear upfield. From the resulting lineout, the Lions conceded another penalty, which gave Munster an attacking lineout deep in the Lions' 22m area.

Although the Lions stopped the maul, Munster kept possession and after several pick-and-goes, Tom Ahern forced his way over the line for a converted try to push their lead out to 24-14 in the 55th minute.

A Smith penalty then cut Munster’s lead to 24-17 with a quarter left in the match.

The Lions had an excellent chance to get their third try in the 70th minute, but Munster’s defence did excellently to hold them up over the line.

The Lions were upping the ante, however, and a brilliant break by Haashim Pead almost resulted in a try for Angelo Davids as he chased a kick ahead by the replacement scrumhalf.