Munster wrapped up this block of matches with a valuable GUINNESS PRO12 win, coming from behind in the dying minutes to secure a 28-24 victory over Cardiff Blues.
The Blues seemed poised for their second win of the campaign at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park when they went in front in the final quarter – number 8 and man-of-the-match Manoa Vosawai got in for their second try.
But Munster, in typical fashion, finished strongly and Paddy Butler put the province back in front, three minutes from time, at the end of an eight-phase move which was ignited by a storming Gerhard van den Heever break.
The try put Munster two points in front and replacement out-half Johnny Holland steered the tricky conversion in the blustery wind just inside the left hand post to leave Cardiff needing a try to win the game.
However, Anthony Foley’s men held on to extend their current winning run to five matches, having made 11 personnel changes to the side that started against Saracens.
The foundation for the round 7 success came with the flawless place-kicking of JJ Hanrahan (pictured below), who scored all seven penalties on an evening when the wind fluctuated throughout.
It is clear the Kerry youngster enjoys playing against Cardiff as he has now converted an incredible 22 kicks in-a-row against the Blues. He kicked four conversions and a penalty against them twelve months ago, and finished with a 24-point haul (six conversions and four penalties) when the sides met at Thomond Park last February.
Hanrahan hit six of those kicks in the opening half to give the men in red an 18-14 interval lead, with their back row – including former Cardiff player Robin Copeland – winning some key decisions at the breakdown.
Full-back Rhys Patchell scored three penalties for the Welsh region with Pumas winger Lucas Amorosino grabbing the opening try of the match after 33 minutes, collecting a flat pass from Patchell to finish neatly in the left corner.
Patchell was unable to land the conversion which left a point between the sides, and the in-form Hanrahan pushed this out to four with another pinpoint penalty.
The visitors might have been further in front had they capitalised on a brilliant hand-off and midfield break from Copeland (pictured below), which allowed the province to pile through into the 22.
Debutant centre Rory Scannell made the wrong decision when opting to take the ball on himself with support outside on the left, but Munster did manage to score the final points of the half thanks to Hanrahan’s reliable right boot.
Cardiff enjoyed enormous possession in the second period, spreading the ball wide and running good angles, but the Munster defence was top class. Foley’s charges struck a telling blow when they defended and then crucially turned over a number of Cardiff scrums five metres out.
The hosts edged ahead in the final quarter, another close-in scrum giving Vosawai the chance to power through attempted tackles from Cathal Sheridan and Hanrahan for a deserved try. Replacement Thomas Davies converted for a 21-18 scoreline.
But it was Munster who finished strongly to secure the four league points, and in the process keep up their perfect record on the road this season in all competitions – four wins from four.
Hanrahan and Davies swapped penalties in the 69th and 73rd minutes respectively, before Hanrahan’s replacement Holland sent a penalty to the corner. CJ Stander then missed a gilt-edged opportunity as he knocked on with the Cardiff defence under huge pressure.
There was relief for the Munster camp when that likely try arrived shortly afterwards. Andrew Smith and Stander made the hard yards in the 22, providing quick ruck ball for Butler who dummied a pass and darted over in impressive fashion past three covering defenders. Holland’s curling conversion copper-fastened the result.
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