Munster vs Lions: URC stats, facts and key history

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s United Rugby Championship match between the Munster and Lions at Musgrave Park in Cork.

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Overall United Rugby Championship head-to-head record: Played 1, Lions won 1.

STATS AND FACTS:

– Munster lost to the Lions in March 2022 away in Johannesburg.

– Historically a major beneficiary of home advantage, Munster have lost two of their last three matches at Thomond Park, albeit to Leinster and Ulster who are both top three sides.

– The Lions are on a two-match losing streak but have won more games this season away from home than in Johannesburg.

– Two powerful ball-carriers in the Munster back row, Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen, carried more than any other players in Round 11, making 26 and 20 respectively.

– Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue both made lineout steals last weekend, but teammate and captain Peter O’Mahony has made more this season than any other player (eight).

– Experts at defending the fringes, Jack O’Donoghue (18), Niall Scannell (14) and Tadgh Beirne (13) have made the most guard tackles in the URC. Beirne has also been a nuisance at more rucks than any other player (28).

– Emmanuel Tshituka has beaten more defenders than any other forward (21).

–  Sanele Nohamba is the only player in the league who has kicked three 50/22s. He has also kicked 10 kicks which have been retained.

– Hard-nosed centre Marius Louw has made more dominant tackle contacts than any other player (14). However, looking for the big hit, he has also missed the most tackles in the URC (25).

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HISTORIC OVERVIEW: MUNSTER VS LIONS

Separated by just three points in the table, the last time that these sides met, the Lions defeated Munster in Johannesburg.

Furthermore, whilst Munster are historically a major beneficiary of home advantage, they have lost two of their last three matches at Thomond Park – albeit to Leinster and Munster. The Lions may be on a two-match losing streak but they have won more matches away from home this season than in Johannesburg.

A hallmark of Munster rugby is their physicality. Two powerful ball carries in their back row, Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen carried more than any other players in Round 11, making 26 and 20 respectively. On the other side of the ball, the Limerick side have been brutal in defending the fringes.

Jack O’Donoghue (18), Niall Scannell (14), and Tadgh Beirne (13) have made the most guard tackles in the URC. Beirne has also been a nuisance in more rucks than any other player, disrupting 28 opposition breakdowns.

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The Munstermen are also fiendish at set-piece. Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue both made lineout steals last weekend but teammate and captain Peter O’Mahony has made more this season than any other player (eight).

The Lions have an array of star quality in their ranks, even if they have not quite clicked so far this season. Exemplifying this is hard-nosed centre Marius Louw. He has made more dominant tackle contacts than any other player (14), but in looking for the big hit, has also missed the most tackles in the URC (25).

In attack though, Emmanuel Tshituka has had a very positive influence for the Lions, beating more defenders than any other forward (21). Controlling field position for his side impressively, Sanele Nohamba is the only player in the league who has kicked three 50/22s, also making ten kicks which have been retained.