Following Northampton Saints' 24-14 victory over Munster in the Champions Cup, here are our thoughts on the Irish team.
evaluation
15 Mike Haley: The full-back ran the ball back as far as he could and scored a vital try before half-time. He also beat three defenders and made seven tackles in a committed game. 6
Great recognition for the second try from Mike Haley 🙌#NORvMUN #InvestecChampionsCup #Suaf 🔴
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 7, 2024
14 Sean O'Brien: When he had the ball in his hands, he often displayed a sharp look, scoring tries from beautifully crashed balls. His defense wasn't very sound, as he missed five tackles and sometimes made expensive defensive reads. Five
13 Antoine Frisch: It was a quiet day by his standards in a frenetic game where he barely managed a carry but managed seven tackles. Five
12 Alex Nankibel: Since joining the club, he has looked very suited for Munster, carrying as strongly as he can and sending well-timed balls to O'Brien for tries. 6
11 Simon Zebo: His positional play was solid throughout, both offensively and defensively, but the veteran winger missed a costly tackle on Northampton's try that ultimately cost him his team. Four
10 Jack Crowley: He struggled at times in windy conditions, including full kickoffs and scramble plays in the backfield. He also missed a costly tackle in the build-up to the final try. However, he controlled his offense very well for the most part. Five
9 Craig Casey: Livewire was busy and efficient throughout his time on the park and made several valuable contributions before being replaced. 6
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8 Gavin Coombs: A great effort from the No. 8, who led the team on the day with 15 carries and also made nine tackles. Coombs also helped control Munster's breakdown with a vital steal. 7
7 John Hodnett: There is no shortage of work as usual. On this day as well, he recorded double-digit tackles with 10 on the side and gave his all. He carried the ball nine times, but he didn't make many ground balls with the ball in his hands. 6
6 Peter O'Mahony: The veteran made a clutch lineout steal near his team's 5-meter line, at which point it was crucial to keep his team in the game. Elsewhere, he was usually busy on both sides of the ball for an hour or so on the park. 6
5 Taj Bern: A big hit. The Munsterman racked up solid tackle numbers in all parts of the game, while also being very effective on carries. HIS HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL BREAKDOWN When you consider his skill and lineout influence, it's easy to see why he ranks among the best players in the world. 8
4 Thomas Ahern: It was great to see the second-rower find space and stretch his legs on the left touchline, but his chip backwards produced no result. However, Ahern remained committed until the end and was one of the key factors for Munster to stay in the game. 7
3 Stephen Archer: At the scrum, it was a mixed effort with a few calls going his way, but otherwise he was relatively quiet with few carries or tackles. Five
2 Niall Scannell: Unfortunately, he made a skew throw at a crucial moment, but he made few other mistakes and completed 100% of his tackles with a final count of 11. He was also able to get the ball into his hands with a decent effort. 6
1 Jeremy Luffman: The big man had an impressive 15 hits in the game, putting him at the top of the team's tackle charts. The scrums were also chaotic on his side, but his dedication to defense earned him solid recognition. 7
Replacement: This change did not necessarily increase Munster's tempo and they probably struggled to match the intensity of the game. Five
read more: England prodigy's stunning double-down win over injury-hit Munster propels Northampton Saints into the Champions Cup quarter-finals
