In-form Munster Rugby secure home quarter-final in URC play-offs with pulsating win over Edinburgh

In-form Munster Rugby made it eight wins on the bounce in the United Rugby Championship with a hard fought 29-26 bonus point victory over Edinburgh to claim top spot in the table until Saturday at least.

The win also ensured Munster secure a home quarter-final in the URC play-off as the holders are guaranteed a top four finish in the table ahead of their final regular season fixture against Ulster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday week.

This is the first time since 2017 that Munster have succeeded in winning eight consecutive fixtures in the league.

A capacity crowd of 7,774 watched a pulsating clash between two in-form teams at Hive Stadium and it was holders Munster who edged the contest scoring four tries in all.

Centre Antoine Frisch scored a brace of tries, while Man of the Match Jack Crowley and back-row Gavin Coombes also dotted down as Munster overtook Glasgow Warriors and Leinster in the league table. Those two sides play their game in hand on Munster on Saturday.

For 30-year-old back row forward Jack O’Donoghue it was a special night in the Scottish capital as he became the youngest ever player to reach the landmark of 200 appearances for the province. He is the 14th player to reach the milestone for the province.

This was only a second home defeat for Edinburgh in the URC this season following Benetton's 24-22 win at Hive Stadium in Round 6.

In-form Munster have now won their last five fixtures with Edinburgh since the Scotsmen’s 18-16 victory in Cork in November 2019.

SCORERS: Edinburgh: Mark Bennett, Boan Venter try each, Ben Healy four pens, two cons. Munster Rugby: Antoine Frisch two tries, Jack Crowley try, three cons, pen, Gavin Coombes try, 

EDINBURGH RUGBY: Wes Goosen, Matt Currie, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott (Co-Capt), Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist (Co-Capt), Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata. Replacements: Dave Cherry, Boan Venter, Javan Sebastian, Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosbie, Ali Price, Cammy Scott, Chris Dean.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Mark Donnelly, John Ryan, RG Snyman, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson.

REFEREE: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)