All Blacks XV Survive Munster’s Onslaught to Claim Gritty Victory
All BlacksNovember 3, 2024
The All Blacks XV outlasted a passionate Munster 38-24 at Thomond Park, Limerick. With
With five minutes remaining, the hosts trailed by 26-24 having mercilessly peppered the visitors' line.
In the 73rd minute, winger Diarmuid Kilgallen made a desperate lunge for the corner only to be knocked into touch by Cory Kellow.
The All Blacks XV finally salvaged possession and replacement halfback Noah Hotham stunned the strident locals when he flashed through the middle of the ruck, linking with second five-eighth Quinn Tupaea who put winger Kini Naholo clear.
Hotham was abuzz with energy in his short stint. Tupaea with a try, 13 carries, and nine tackles was a fulcrum in midfield.
First five-eighth Harry Plummer was another study in composure. His 60m intercept finally extinguished the Munster flame. Earlier, Plummer engineered a try with a deft delivery to Blues teammate AJ Lam.
It has been a tumultuous week for Munster. On Tuesday coach Graham Rountree suddenly departed but it wouldn’t have been forgotten by the All Blacks XV that Munster won the United Rugby Championship and conquered the World Champions Springboks just two years ago. Indeed, Munster started with startling commitment and cohesion, but the All Blacks XV was resolute. An illustration of how earnestly this victory was achieved was that the All Blacks XV outtackled Munster 165 to 97. Nine All Blacks XV players finished the match in double tackle figures with openside flanker and captain Du’Plessis Kirifi topping the charts with 18. Man of the match Fabin Holland made a dozen and helped the All Blacks XV achieve an 11/12 lineout record.
After withstanding the early onslaught, Lam scored a try in the 22nd minute working in sync with Plummer. Naholo, Tupaea and Holland were then in perfect unison during the construction of a Chay Fihaki try.
Despite a 14-0 deficit, Munster had initiative and deserved their breakthough from tireless phase attack in the 34th minute. Munster headed to the sheds buoyant when they scored a penalty try from a lineout drive. All Blacks XV lock Isaia Walker-Leawere was given his marching orders for ten minutes.
Heroically the undermanned All Blacks XV responded with a lineout shove of their own in the 44th minute. Crusaders hooker Brodie McAlister with a trademark finish. Munster employed the same tactic again with openside flanker John Hodnett profiting.
Kirifi had a try scrubbed out but Tupaea wouldn’t be denied after a sublime kick by Stevenson. Ruben Love had broken earlier to create momentum.
Munster was pesky and a try to Tom Farrell best epitomised their courage. Second five-eighth Rory Scannell was repelled backwards but bounced legally, sprightly to his feet and thrust forward to the protests of the All Blacks XV.
There was no derision expressed towards Kirifi when he snatched a 65th minute to foil a dangerous surge.
Another memorable New Zealand-Munster rugby occasion. The All Blacks XV have won four of their five matches since 2022.
All Blacks XV: 38 (AJ Lam, Chay Fihaki, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brodie McAllister, Quinn Tupaea, Kini Naholo, Harry Plummer tries; Plummer 4 con) Munster: 26 (Mike Haley, Penalty try, John Hodnett, Tom Farrell tries; Tony Butler con) HT: 14-12
Stream the All Blacks XV v Georgia clash live and free in over 150 countries on NZR+. Don’t miss the action—available to stream worldwide (excluding NZ and Georgia). Kick-off is at 3:00 p.m. CET on Sunday, 10 November. Watch in New Zealand on Sky Sport (Kick off 2am Monday 11 November NZT).
