Munster failed to leapfrog the Stormers on the Vodacom URC log after losing at home to Leinster on Saturday night.
A win at Thomond Park would have taken Munster to the summit, but they were edged 13-8 by their arch-rivals.
Munster’s losing bonus point lifts them back above Cardiff and into second place on the URC log. Leinster, who lost three of their opening four games of the 2025-26 campaign – including a 31-14 defeat to Munster at Croke Park in October – have now won six matches in a row in all competitions and remain sixth on the URC log.
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Leinster struck early after Munster were penalised repeatedly at the breakdown, with flank Josh van der Flier crossing in the sixth minute. Flyhalf Harry Byrne added the conversion and would prove decisive, finishing with two penalties while Munster flyhalf Jack Crowley missed a crucial conversion later on.
Byrne extended Leinster’s lead early in the second half with a penalty following a maul infringement, before Crowley finally opened Munster’s account from the tee. Leinster quickly restored a 10-point cushion when Byrne slotted another penalty after Munster were caught offside.
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Munster eventually found a way through in the 69th minute when centre Dan Kelly forced his way over, setting up a tense finish.
The home side threw everything at Leinster in the closing stages, camped inside the visitors’ 22, but a combination of handling errors and resolute defence saw the Dubliners hold on.
The South African sides were not in action this weekend, with the Lions playing their round-eight fixture against the Sharks at Ellis Park on 21 February, while the Stormers will travel to Loftus to take on the Vodacom Bulls on 14 March.
Photo: @leinsterrugby/X
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