Late tries see off Munster’s challenge against All Blacks XV at Thomond Park

Despite scoring four tries, Munster shipped six to a Kiwi side that were there for the taking, had Munster been a little more clinical across the course of an entertaining contest in Limerick.

Munster's early pressure was undone by two tries in four first-half minutes from AJ Lam and Chay Fihaki, both of which were converted by Plummer, but the home side dug deep to pull within two points at the break (14-12) thanks to a well-worked Mike Haley score followed by a penalty try.

Isaia Walker-Leawere saw yellow for the maul infringement, but the 14-man All Blacks struck for a third converted try shortly after the restart through Brodie McAlister.

John Hodnett reduced the deficit to 21-17 before Quinn Tupaea put the Kiwis back in control with a fourth try on the hour mark.

But Munster refused to lie down and hit back again when Tom Farrell scored under the posts, with Tony Butler's conversion bringing Munster to within two with 20 minutes remaining.

Munster threw everything at the Kiwis in the closing stages but two breakaway tries from Naholo and Plummer ended their hopes of adding another famous win to their collection.

Scorers – Munster: Haley, Hodnett, Farrell try each, penalty try; Butler con. All Blacks XV: Lam, Fihaki, McAlister, Tupaea, Naholo, Plummer try each; Plummer 4 cons.

Munster: M Haley; S McCarthy (B O'Connor 71), T Farrell, R Scannell, D Kilgallen; B Burns (T Butler 52), E Coughlan (P Patterson 56); J Ryan (K Ryan 52), D Barron (capt) (N Scannell, 56), S Archer (R Foxe 71; F Wycherley, T Ahern (E O'Connell 61); P O'Mahony (R Quinn h-t), J Hodnett, G Coombes.

All Blacks XV: S Stevenson (J Jacomb 72); C Fihaki (R Love 46), AJ Lam, Q Tupaea, K Naholo; H Plummer, F Christie (N Hotham 66); G Bower (X Numia 51), B McAlister (B Slater 59), G Dyer (M Renata 51); I Walker-Leawere, F Holland (N Ah Kuoi 66); O Haig, D Kirifi (capt), D Flanders (C Kellow 66).

Ref: T Namekawa (Japan)