Munster 15 Australia 6:Robbie Deans' Australia became the latest touring side to founder in Thomond Park as Munster claimed another historic scalp this evening. The tourists were beaten all ends up on a wet and wild night in Limerick.
Munster’s Australian outhalf kicked all the home side’s points on a desperately difficult night with the placed ball. Three penalties were augmented with two opportunist drop goals to give the home side the win their unrelenting pressure warranted.
Despite the occasional flare-up, Australia didn’t look interested in meeting Munster’s challenge head on and could only muster a couple of Berrick Barnes penalties in reply.
Without taking anything away from Munster’s achievement, Deans will be hugely disappointed with a second-half in which the Aussies were barely able to make it into the Munster half.
Playing with a howling gale at their backs, Berrick Barnes opened the scoring for the visitors but Warwick replied with a drop goal after five minutes.
Australia edged ahead with another Barnes three-pointer but after Munster broke upfield and earned the penalty, for which Anthony Faingaa was binned, Warwick fired his effort right into the teeth of the wind.
Having held their own in the worst of the conditions, Munster knew the match was theirs to lose after the break. With a dominant pack, Duncan Williams and Warwick pulled the strings expertly while Keith Earls gave occasional flashes of his brilliance.
The win, Munster’s fourth over a touring Wallabies side, was sealed with two more Warwick penalties and another drop goal to ensure the celebrations went on long into the Limerick night.
The Wallabies, who face Ireland in their Rugby World Cup pool next year, had the wind behind them from the off but were held to a 6-6 half-time scoreline. Barnes, the visitors’ captain, struck a pinpoint second-minute penalty to punish Niall Ronan for a ruck offence.
Australia then coughed up a couple of penalties, the second after a purposeful maul from the Munster forwards, and another surge from the forwards set up Warwick for a successful drop goal from right in front of the posts.
A promising position for Australia was spoilt by a crooked lineout throw from Saia Faingaa, and Munster were impressive out of touch, with young lock Ian Nagle a towering presence.
The Wallabies were sent scurrying back towards their try-line in the 21st minute, Rod Davies rescuing the situation after new Munster prop Peter Borlase and the lively Earls had sparked a kick chase.
From the resulting scrum, Munster threatened through Warwick before the forwards were held up. A powerful shove in the scrum got the Wallabies out of trouble, winning them a relieving penalty.
Barnes kicked his second successful penalty in the 29th minute and Munster had Peter O’Mahony to thank for a well-timed tackle on Luke Morahan, as Davies loomed on the right. But hands in the ruck saw Australian centre Anthony Faingaa sin-binned before half-time, after repeated warnings from referee Bryce Lawrence.
Munster, roared on by an attendance of 21,314, levelled through Warwick’s brilliantly controlled kick from the left. The Munster out-half was a pivotal figure in the third quarter, landing two crisply struck penalties as Earls held the ball upright in the swirling wind.
The initiative was clearly with Munster and up-and-coming talents including man of the match Nagle and O’Mahony maintained a huge work rate. By contrast, Australia’s efforts slid and handling errors blighted even Barnes.
Starved of possession and territory, Deans’ men let their discipline slip and Munster had near misses when scrum-half Duncan Williams was held up short of the line and Johne Murphy failed to link with Doug Howlett when the New Zealander was the better option.
Warwick was off target with three more penalty attempts — two from difficult angles on the right and another kick from distance found the right hand post. But his snap drop goal, on the hour mark, was enough to get the current Magners League leaders over the finish line.
Some committed defence from the lacklustre Wallabies kept Munster try-less. However, a late yellow card for prop Ben Daley, who infringed at a ruck in his 22, signalled the end for the men in gold and green.
Scoring sequence:
2 mins
Barnes pen 0-3;
4 mins
Warwick drop goal 3-3;
29 mins
Barnes pen 3-6;
33 mins
Warwick pen 6-6; (half-time 6-6);
42 mins
Warwick pen 9-6;
49 mins
Warwick pen 12-6;
61 mins
Warwick drop goal 15-6.
Munster:Johne Murphy; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Sam Tuitupou, Denis Hurley; Paul Warwick, Duncan Williams; Wian Du Preez, Damien Varley, Peter Borlase; Billy Holland, Ian Nagle; Peter O'Mahony, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan.
Replacements:Mike Sherry for Varley, Tommy O'Donnell for O'Mahony (both 62 mins), Conor Murray for Williams (67 mins), Scott Deasy for Murphy (72 mins), Stephen Archer for Borlase, Brian Hayes for Nagle, Barry Murphy for Earls (all 78 mins).
Australia:Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs); Rod Davies (Queensland Reds), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Anthony Faingaa (Queensland Reds), Luke Morahan (Queensland Reds); Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs, capt), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs); Ben Daley (Queensland Reds), Saia Faingaa (Queensland Reds), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies); Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds); Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Richard Brown (Western Force).
Replacements:Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs) for Faingaa (46 mins), James Slipper (Queensland Reds) for Daley, Van Humphries (Queensland Reds) for Brown (both 53 mins), Pat McCutcheon (NSW Waratahs) for Higginbotham (half-time), Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels) for Burgess, Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds) for Turner (both 57 mins).
Not used:Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds).
Referee:Bryce Lawrence (NZ)