Munster lose to Glasgow as all Irish provinces suffer defeats in opening URC games

A sobering opening weekend of the URC season ended with a fourth Irish defeat out of four. There was actually much to like about this Munster display, not least the first sightings of the Jared Payne/Mossie Lawlor attacking amalgam of strike plays and phased attack, as well as an eye-catching full debut by Irish-qualified Kiwi scrumhalf Ben O’Connor.

Alas for Munster, after leading 17-7 at the break, their heavy injury list took a toll as Glasgow’s superior quality off the bench increasingly strangled home team and fans alike, with O’Donovan’s opposite number George Horne becoming the game’s dominant figure.