Munster defeated Edinburgh today at Murrayfield, but failure to claim a bonus point means that the race for the quarter-finals will go down to the wire.
By Declan Whooley
Tries from Conor Murray and a penalty-try saw Munster win on a scoreline of 26-17, with Tim Visser touching down for the home side’s first try in 390 minutes of European action.
Despite dominating territory and possession, Rob Penney’s men could not get the four tries they craved.
The first half saw Ronan O’Gara and Greg Laidlaw exchange penalties as the away side led at the interval 12-3. The game was tetchy throughout and early in the second half David Kilcoyne was sin-binned after preventing Laidlaw from a quick-tap penalty.
Despite the two tries, they couldn’t crack the Edinburgh defence and they got their first tries of the competition through wingers Visser and Dougie Fife, meaning they scored more today than in their previous four outings.
Munster trail Saracens by three points and will hope that a bonus point win over Racing Metro will be enough to at least take them through as one of the best runners-up, but it will be a close run affair with Leinster, Montpellier, Leicester and Northampton all in the hunt.
It’s going to be squeaky-bum time in Thomond Park next week.
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