Munster entertained Edinburgh at Thomond Park, on Saturday, in what would be their final home game of the season – a Guinness PRO14 semi-final qualifier.
Johann van Graan’s men won 20-16 and will next face Leinster in the last four, at The RDS, on Saturday May 19. The Edinburgh game was one last chance for many Munster supporters to bid farewell, in person, to the likes of Simon Zebo, Robin Copeland and Gerbrandt Grobler.
There was a lot at stake on the day but the game only attracted a crowd of 10,205. That is way, way down on the high point of the season – 26,267 for the home league clash with Leinster over Christmas.
The no-show from thousands of Munster supporters was noted during The Hard Yards [from 2:00 below] with former Leinster and Ireland flanker Kevin McLaughlin far from impressed.
“Edinburgh are good – you have to remember that – and it’s a win, 20-16, in a playoff game,” McLaughlin commented.
“It’s pretty disappointing, that crowd. You think you’d get around 20,000 for a quarter final. It’ll be disappointing for the PRO14.
“I think everyone in Munster just assumed it would be a walkover but, Jesus, thank God they got through. This game in The RDS is going to be absolutely mouth-watering.”
The outrageously good weather that swept most of the country over the weekend may have played a part in fans opting to stay away from the ground and pursue other interests but Munster would have been hoping to fill many more seats than they did.
Saturday’s attendance was the lowest so far in any of the Thomond Park games played by Munster this season. Even games against Cardiff and Zebre attracted crowds in excess of 13,000.
Perhaps, as host Andy McGeady noted, some fans were saving for the trip up to Dublin for an anticipated semi with Leinster. Munster supporters may face a scramble to get many tickets for that encounter as Leinster are the designated ‘home team’ so may take up much of the ground.
