LAST UPDATE | 20 Jan 2024

The 42

MUNSTER SUFFERED ONLY a seventh Thomond Park defeat in the province’s European history as 14-man Northampton Saints earned a famous first victory at the Limerick venue.

Graham Rowntree’s side have progressed to the Champions Cup last season irrespective of tonight’s disappointing 26-23 defeat but they will face a tough away trip when the knockouts roll around in April.

Saints had hooker Curtis Langdon sent off on the stroke of half-time for a concussive knee to the head of Thomas Ahern, and they went in eight points down as Munster gained the ascendancy. The Premiership side rallied from 10 down in the second half, however, to forge a deserved win as Munster wilted in the wind and rain.

Read Murray Kinsella’s full match report from Thomond Park: Rowntree’s Munster limp into round of 16 after defeat to 14-man Saints (€)

Jordan Larmour celebrates his try with Josh van der Flier. Juan Gasparini / INPHO Juan Gasparini / INPHO / INPHO

Earlier, a late try by Caelan Doris boosted Leinster’s chances of landing a top-two seed in the Champions Cup knockout stages which would result in home advantage as far as the semi-finals if the eastern province were to make it that far.

Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber’s side ran out bonus-point, 27-10 victors over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, with Doris dotting down the eastern province’s all-important fourth try deep into second-half stoppage time.

Earlier tries by Ireland-international trio Joe McCarthy, Jordan Larmour and Dan Sheehan had put Leinster in the driving seat after Leicester had built a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes via a try by Hanro Liebenberg.

Read Ciarán Kennedy’s full match report from Welford Road: Leinster leave it late to claim bonus-point win at Leicester (€)