Sports · Other Sports · 1 day ago
Ulster let Munster take control before late fightback falls short
Munster beat Ulster in a United Rugby Championship match after scoring four tries in the first half.
Alex Kendellen scored twice, while Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly also crossed for Munster.
Ulster coach Richie Murphy said his team gave Munster control through inaccurate play and penalties.
Ulster improved after the break and came close to winning with the final play, but Alex Nankivell intercepted Robert Baloucoune’s pass.
The result extended Ulster’s winless run in the competition to seven games.
Munster coach Clayton McMillan said his side lost control of the match after building a 21-point lead at half-time.
Both coaches said Ulster’s second-half response changed the contest.
Munster built a 21-point half-time lead against Ulster, but Ulster fought back before losing their chance to win on the final play.
Munster scored first-half tries through Alex Kendellen twice, Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly.
Ulster were held scoreless in the first half, then scored three points after the break.
Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune attempted a final-play pass to Matthew Devine, but Alex Nankivell intercepted it.
Ulster’s winless run in the United Rugby Championship reached seven games.
Both coaches criticised their teams’ second-half performance and execution.
- Who
- Ulster and Munster.
- What
- Munster built a 21-point half-time lead, then held on as Ulster fought back and threatened to win on the final play.
- When
- 10 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Ulster coach Murphy said his side let Munster set the tempo and failed to control field position. Munster coach Clayton McMillan said his team did not maintain its accuracy or quality of possession after half-time.
Ulster
Munster
First-half performance
Ulster
Murphy said Ulster allowed Munster to set the tempo and gave them control.
Munster
McMillan said Munster took a 21-point lead but did not maintain its accuracy after half-time.
Second-half performance
Ulster
Murphy said Ulster reacted well but remained inaccurate and failed to look after the ball.
Munster
McMillan said Ulster were good enough to find a way back into the game.
We allowed Munster to set the tempo, we were inaccurate with our first launch, so that we kicked off, they kicked out, so we were inaccurate with that first launch
We talked about it at half-time that Ulster are a quality side that won't go away
Our turnover rate needs to come down, our scrum has been going really well but took a backward step tonight and I kind of feel like we didn't attack the game the way we needed to.
But we didn't quite get the same quality of possession in the second half, and Ulster were good enough to find a way back into the game.
Munster scored tries through Alex Kendellen twice, Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly to take a 21-point lead.
Munster led by 21 points.
Ulster scored three points while Munster were held scoreless.
Alex Nankivell intercepted Robert Baloucoune’s attempted pass to Matthew Devine.
- Munster half-time lead
- 21 points
- Munster first-half try scorers
- Alex Kendellen (2), Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly
- Ulster second-half points
- 3
- Ulster final-play pass
- Robert Baloucoune attempted a pass to Matthew Devine
- Ulster interceptor
- Alex Nankivell
- Ulster winless URC run
- 7 games
Sources
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