Ulster began the new year in emphatic fashion, dismantling Munster 28-3 in wintry Belfast conditions to surge into second place in the BKT United Rugby Championship table. Richie Murphy’s side delivered a commanding and complete performance at a sold-out Affidea Stadium, demonstrating the significant progress being made under their head coach’s stewardship.
Key moments:
5′ – PENALTY ULSTER: Nathan Doak kicks penalty (Ulster 3-0 Munster)
11′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: Brian Gleeson replaces John Hodnett (injury)
24′ – PENALTY ULSTER: Nathan Doak kicks penalty (Ulster 6-0 Munster)
28′ – PENALTY MUNSTER: JJ Hanrahan kicks penalty (Ulster 6-3 Munster)
Half-time: Ulster 6-3 Munster
42′ – PENALTY ULSTER: Nathan Doak kicks penalty (Ulster 9-3 Munster)
46′ – TRY REVIEW ULSTER: Jacob Stockdale ruled to have lost control grounding ball, try disallowed
48′ – SUBSTITUTION ULSTER: Jake Flannery replaces Jacob Stockdale
48′ – SUBSTITUTIONS MUNSTER: Jeremy Loughman, Conor Bartley and Ethan Coughlan replace Josh Wycherley, Michael Ala’alatoa and Paddy Patterson
47′ – TRY ULSTER: Tom Stewart scores from close range after tap penalty, Nathan Doak converts (Ulster 16-3 Munster)
50′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: Jack O’Donoghue replaces Alex Kendellen (injury)
52′ – SUBSTITUTION ULSTER: Eric O’Sullivan replaces Angus Bell
54′ – TRY ULSTER: Jake Flannery scores after Werner Kok assist, Nathan Doak misses conversion (Ulster 21-3 Munster)
56′ – SUBSTITUTIONS ULSTER: Rob Herring, Scott Wilson and Harry Sheridan replace Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole and Iain Henderson
56′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: Tony Butler replaces Mike Haley
58′ – TRY REVIEW ULSTER: Werner Kok ruled to be in touch, try disallowed
60′ – SUBSTITUTIONS ULSTER: Jude Postlethwaite and David McCann replace Stuart McCloskey and Cormac Izuchukwu
64′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: Sean O’Brien replaces Alex Nankivell (injury)
71′ – TRY ULSTER: Bryn Ward scores from close range, Nathan Doak converts (Ulster 28-3 Munster)
72′ – SUBSTITUTION MUNSTER: Lee Barron replaces Diarmuid Barron
78′ – SUBSTITUTION ULSTER: Conor McKee replaces Nathan Doak
Full-time: Ulster 28-3 Munster
After a dour, error-strewn first half played in intermittent snow flurries that made handling treacherous, Ulster flexed their muscles in the second period, scoring three unanswered tries and 22 unanswered points to record a comprehensive victory. The margin reflected Ulster’s complete dominance across all facets of play, with Munster managing only a solitary penalty from JJ Hanrahan’s boot throughout the entire 80 minutes.
The opening period proved frustrating for both sides, with handling errors plaguing any attempts to build attacking momentum. The conditions, with snow falling steadily throughout the first quarter and worsening as the half progressed, contributed to the scrappy nature of proceedings, though neither side could claim the weather as complete mitigation for the error count on display.
The opening exchanges set the tone for a physical contest, with Ulster immediately asserting themselves through strong defence and intelligent kicking. Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak managed territory expertly, repeatedly forcing Munster to exit from deep positions, whilst the Ulster pack laid solid foundations through direct carries and effective breakdown work.
In front of their first sold-out crowd of the season, Ulster appeared far more fired up by the prospect of another Irish derby. Jacob Stockdale barged past the tackle of Hanrahan to bring the first roar from the home supporters, whilst soon after James Hume charged into a tackle on Calvin Nash, winning the turnover penalty that led to the opening score.
Nathan Doak opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a straightforward penalty after brilliant kick-chase pressure from James Hume resulted in Mike Haley being penalised for going off his feet. The Ulster scrum-half, who earlier in the week had signed a contract extension until 2028, added a second penalty in the 24th minute following JJ Hanrahan’s offside infringement. Both kicks demonstrated Doak’s reliability from the tee, establishing Ulster’s early control despite their inability to convert territorial dominance into tries.
Munster’s only first-half response came in the 28th minute when Hanrahan tapped over a simple penalty after Nick Timoney was penalised for coming in at the side. Brian Gleeson had come agonisingly close to scoring moments earlier but was held up short, representing Munster’s best attacking opportunity of the opening period. The Munster number eight had entered the fray in the 11th minute as an early replacement for John Hodnett, who departed with what appeared a serious arm injury requiring minimal on-field treatment.
Ulster threatened sporadically before the interval, with Werner Kok making a significant break down the left wing following an excellent offload from Hume. However, a loose pass from Jacob Stockdale into contact prevented them from capitalising. The half-time whistle arrived with Ulster holding a slender 6-3 advantage, though their superiority in territory and possession suggested the margin should have been greater.
Murphy’s side emerged from the dressing room with renewed purpose and intent, addressing the frustrations of the opening period with clinical execution. “I think it was really difficult,” the head coach explained afterwards. “A few snow showers just before kick-off and then through that first half, there was another big one, which made it very difficult to play. One or two passes gone down and one or two balls that we just didn’t respect enough.”
The breakthrough try arrived in the 47th minute following sustained pressure in the Munster 22. After Jacob Stockdale was controversially denied in the corner by TMO Mike Adamson, who ruled he had lost control grounding the ball, Ulster opted to tap the resulting penalty rather than kick for goal. Tom Stewart made the initial carry, with Bryn Ward following up powerfully. Stewart then positioned himself behind the ruck for his second carry of the movement, forcing his way over with assistance from Angus Bell. Doak’s conversion extended the lead to 16-3, providing breathing space for the first time.
It proved a successful comeback for captain Henderson, who returned from a back injury that had sidelined him since late October. He had been due to play in Ulster’s URC meeting with Benetton in November but withdrew after a back spasm before the game. His presence proved crucial, both in leadership and at crucial moments.
The second try showcased Ulster’s clinical ability to punish errors. In the 54th minute, Munster secured possession at a scrum but Henderson produced a huge breakdown steal from Alex Nankivell’s carry deep in Ulster territory. With the turnover secured, Jack Murphy whipped a wide pass to Kok on the left wing. The South African wing straightened up before executing a sublime no-look pop pass to Jake Flannery, who was looping around on his inside shoulder. Flannery, facing his former province for the first time, raced clear to score unopposed. Doak’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but at 21-3, Munster faced a mountain they appeared to have no equipment to climb.
Ulster continued to dominate territorial exchanges, with Zac Ward and Kok repeatedly making dangerous carries from deep positions. Munster’s attacking game looked utterly devoid of ideas or spark, with the absence of Ireland internationals Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Tadhg Beirne and Gavin Coombes proving fatal to their hopes of mounting any comeback. The inability of their forwards to generate go-forward ball severely limited any impact Dan Kelly or Nankivell could have in the centre, while some of their passing choices and handling proved woeful throughout the second period.
Ulster came desperately close to securing the bonus point on several occasions during the final quarter. Werner Kok slid in for what appeared a certain try in the 58th minute, only for the TMO to rule he had touched the whitewash before grounding. The move originated from yet another breakdown steal in Ulster’s own half, with Ward making the initial break upfield to establish field position.
The insurance score arrived in the 71st minute, though not the fourth try required for the bonus point. From a five-metre scrum won after Sean O’Brien was forced to ground the ball over his own tryline following a turnover, Bryn Ward demonstrated his powerful ball-carrying to devastating effect. The number eight broke from the base of the scrum, and though Scott Wilson was held up short initially, Ward followed up to crash over for a richly deserved try. Doak’s conversion made it 28-3, confirming Ulster’s complete superiority.
Ulster pushed desperately for the bonus point during the dying minutes, winning a penalty in Munster territory and kicking to the corner with time almost expired. A lineout move sent Zac Ward charging down the wing, but his offload was spilled forward, ending hopes of the fourth try. Ethan Coughlan kicked to touch moments later to end Munster’s misery.
For Munster, this represents an incredibly poor performance that raises serious questions about squad depth and resilience when frontline internationals are rested. After a busy festive period, it was the visitors who rotated more heavily, with Irish internationals Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes all absent following the 10 changes made from last Saturday’s defeat to Leinster.
Head coach Clayton McMillan offered no excuses in his post-match assessment: “There’s no sugar-coating over anything really. We just never got our game going. We were never allowed to get our game going. I’ve got to give credit to where it’s due and that’s to a good Ulster side.”
The New Zealander acknowledged his side’s recent struggles: “It just wasn’t good enough. Nowhere near the standard that we want to set. It’s an opportunity for a number of people to put themselves in the jersey in the coming weeks and really just walk away with more questions than answers. Not a great day at the office, but as coaches, we own it first and foremost.”
McMillan admitted Munster have struggled to find rhythm in recent weeks: “I think we’ve been a little clunky in our performances, haven’t quite hit our stride. We’ve tried a few different things, obviously haven’t struck the right chord just yet. So it starts with us. We’ll go away. We’ll reflect on what we can do better. We’ve got a nine-day turnaround now, so we really need to leverage off that to try and find the solutions.”
They managed precious few entries into the Ulster 22, and each time they arrived in attacking positions, they looked rudderless without Crowley and Casey orchestrating proceedings. Jean Kleyn suffered a particularly frustrating evening, knocking on repeatedly in promising positions, whilst handling errors plagued their entire 23.
Clayton McMillan’s side face a monumentally challenging task travelling to Toulon for Sunday’s Champions Cup encounter on 11 January. Their earlier good start to the URC campaign means this defeat sees them slip from second to fourth place in the standings, though the manner of the performance will concern coaching staff as they prepare for Europe’s premier competition. Munster have now lost four of their last six games in all competitions, including back-to-back derby defeats.
For Ulster, this was a statement victory that confirms their credentials as genuine championship contenders. They climb to second in the table on 30 points, sitting just one point behind the unbeaten Stormers having played a game more, moving above Cardiff Rugby, Munster and Glasgow Warriors. Murphy has instilled a clear identity in his squad, with dangerous runners from deep combining with forward power to create a balanced, threatening attacking system.
Bryn Ward, operating at number eight in the continued absence of the injured Jaurno Augustus, was named man of the match following an outstanding display that culminated in his first senior try. The 21-year-old Academy forward epitomised Ulster’s effort with relentless carrying and defensive work, establishing himself as a genuine prospect for the future. He combined brilliantly with hooker Tom Stewart, captain Iain Henderson and openside Nick Timoney to bully Munster at the gainline, providing the platform for Ulster’s dangerous backs to wreak havoc.
His older brother Zac proved equally devastating on the wing, with Werner Kok constantly causing problems with their running from deep, exploiting the space behind Munster’s disjointed defensive line. Murphy praised both siblings in his post-match comments: “The two Ward brothers tonight were freaks, weren’t they, with ball in hand? We’re really, really happy with how Bryn’s coming on. We’ve been dripping him in for 10, 15, 20 minutes in games, but you can kind of see what kind of a ball carrier he is. Devastating.”
Despite the conditions, Murphy expressed delight with his side’s patience and second-half ruthlessness: “28-3 against Munster is no mean feat for any team and we’re delighted and we’re in a really good place now. Defensively, I thought we were really good as well. We kept knocking them back, kept good width, our discipline was decent as well.” Doak extended the lead to six points just two minutes into the second period, slotting a penalty from 40 metres after Alex Kendellen was penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. Ulster’s forwards immediately established dominance at the contact area, driving Munster backwards and winning crucial turnovers to set the platform for their exciting backline.
“The guys are buzzing now, they’re really delighted,” Murphy said, though he acknowledged slight frustration at missing the bonus point: “Although we’re absolutely delighted, even in the second half, probably towards that last two minutes, three minutes, we probably should have been able to get over for the bonus point. We’re moving in the right direction. I think it’s really important that we keep our feet on the ground and just keep trying to improve.”
Ulster now turn their attention to the European Challenge Cup and a fixture against the Cheetahs in Amsterdam on 11 January, whilst Munster must regroup quickly to face Toulon in the Champions Cup on the same day. The contrasting fortunes of these provincial rivals heading into Europe’s competitions reflect the gulf demonstrated on this wintry Belfast evening.
Ulster Rugby: J Stockdale (J Flannery 48); W Kok, J Hume, S McCloskey (J Postlethwaite 60), Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak (C McKee 78); A Bell (E O’Sullivan 52), T Stewart (R Herring 56), T O’Toole (S Wilson 56); I Henderson (capt) (H Sheridan 56), J Hopes; C Izuchukwu (D McCann 60), N Timoney, B Ward
Munster Rugby: M Haley (T Butler 56); C Nash, D Kelly, A Nankivell (S O’Brien 64), T Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, P Patterson (E Coughlan 48); J Wycherley (J Loughman 48), D Barron (capt) (L Barron 72), M Ala’alatoa (C Bartley 48); J Kleyn, F Wycherley; T Ahern, J Hodnett (B Gleeson 11), A Kendellen (J O’Donoghue 50)
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Attendance: Sold out (capacity 18,196)
International1 week ago
International3 weeks ago
International2 weeks ago
International7 days ago
International3 weeks ago
International2 weeks ago
International2 weeks ago