Champion start for Munster

Munster made a near-perfect start to the defence of their Heineken Cup title.

Holders Munster made a near-perfect start to the defence of their Heineken Cup title with a 21-19 victory in a titanic struggle at two-time former winners Leicester.

In a match of Test-match intensity played in appalling conditions, it was ultimately Munster who held on in a frantic, tension-soaked finale at Welford Road.

Leicester's home is no longer quite the fortress it once was, but Munster nevertheless arrived as underdogs. They left as clear favourites to win the group.

For their part, Leicester are already in trouble; with trips to Thomond Park, Cardiff and Bourgoin to come, the Tigers are in danger of being tamed before they can muster a roar.

But for the final 20 minutes when Leicester's forwards finally started to dominate up front, Munster just edged the contest by dint of their superior defence and composure when the occasional chance arose amid the controlled fury.

The visitors went ahead after just nine minutes and stayed there. Tigers scrum-half Scott Bernard spilled the ball as he retrieved it from a ruck and it dropped into Donncha O'Callaghan's grateful hands, the big lock lumbering 55 metres to score.

Ronan O'Gara - whose criticisms of English rugby probably played no part at all in adding to the rivalry on the pitch - missed a straighforward conversion to the delight of the Leicester crowd.

Four minutes later former Munster fly-half Paul Burke knocked over a penalty after the visitors were penalised for playing the ball on the floor, before O'Gara redeemed his reputation somewhat with a neat drop-goal from 25 metres out.

Crucially, Burke missed two very kickable penalties midway through the half. With place-kicking so vital in these conditions, it was no surprise that he was replaced after the break by Andy Goode.

But before that, Munster had stretched their lead; the Leicester midfield was opened up by a set move off a line-out, before David Wallace finished powerfully from close range.

O'Gara added the extras, but Leicester at least got a toehold in the game when Burke slotted a penalty for crossing in the 47th minute, the visitors going in 15-6 up at half-time.

Goode quickly set up Leicester's best try-scoring chance of the match on 46 minutes, chipping through for Daryl Gibson to collect close to the line only for the bounce of the ball to take it agonisingly out of the centre's grasp.

Goode got his first points moments later for a midfield offside, but O'Gara cancelled that out on the hour mark after a Leicester ruck offence.

The final quarter belonged to Leicester as their forwards took almost complete control of the setpieces.

They got their reward on 70 minutes when after three scrum offences close to the try-line, referee Nigel Owens awarded the Tigers a penalty try.

O'Gara's re-start went out on the full and Munster's scrum again failed them, Goode knocking over the resultant penalty.

A point behind with over 10 minutes' playing time left, Leicester were clear favourites at that stage.

But perhaps recalling their status as champions, the Munster defence suddenly stiffened. Indeed it was the men in red who had the last word.

Leicester were pinged for playing the ball on the ground, their frustrated protests moved the penalty 10 metres just into kicking range and O'Gara slotted a magnificent kick from just inside his own half.