MUNSTER 31-17 BULLS
Munster fans have not had much to hang their hat on, so far this season. Edwin Edogbo gave them something to be hopeful about, tonight and for the seasons ahead.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at a shade over 19-stone, the former Cobh Pirates lock got his first taste of senior experience at Munster, last season, when the squad were hit with a spate of Covid positives on a trip to South Africa.
Although he did not feature in those back-to-back fixtures against Wasps, he impressed enough around the senior pros to be kept close in the months that followed. After a strong pre-season, he made his senior debut in the away loss to Dragons, last month. Two more substitute appearances followed before Graham Rowntree backed the Cork teenager for his first start against a hefty Bulls side.
The selection was a big show of faith in Edogbo by the Munster coaches, especially when one considers the southern province had lost three of their opening four United Rugby Championship games.
If the big occasion, and that added pressure on Munster, was daunting, the 19-year-old did not show it in the early stages. Edogbo made three carries in the first eight minutes, and two of them were dominant.
With Munster leading 10-3, after 35 minutes, Edogbo went close with a tryline dart himself before reloading, after he was denied, and latching on with Jean Kleyn to heave Gavin Coombes over for his second of the night. That score settled the hosts and the 20 minutes either side of half-time was their purple patch. Their young lock was having fun out there.
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Munster seal bonus point victory
Second half tries from Jeremy Loughman, after a Joey Carbery kick into the Bulls 22 was not dealt with, and Tadhg Beirne saw the try-scoring bonus sealed.
David Kriel raced away on a counter to make it an interesting final 10 minutes, as last season's beaten finalists chased a losing bonus point. By this stage, the likes of Loughman, Beirne, Craig Casey and Peter O'Mahony were on the sidelines, their work done.
Edogo was replaced after 51 minutes and the man that took his place, Thomas Ahern - fresh off a positive Emerging Ireland tour - had a fine shift on a night when Munster showed signs of life.
Our Man of the Match: Gavin Coombes
(Munster)
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