Once again Munster mounted a late comeback to go on and claim another GUINNESS PRO12 victory on the road, this time defeating Cardiff Blues 23-13 at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
It was not until the 75th minute before a Rory Scannell drop goal and a subsequent Conor Oliver try secured this round 17 success for the province in Cardiff.
In dreadful playing conditions, the Billy Holland-captained Munster side opted to play against the wind and they managed the elements well in the first half, controlling possession for the most part with eventual man-of-the-match Jaco Taute and Darren Sweetnam among their best performers.
An injury to out-half Ian Keatley, 20 minutes in, forced a back-line reshuffle with the aforementioned Scannell moving to number 10 and Francis Saili introduced at outside centre. The pair went on to have a key influence on the game.
Both sides missed opening penalty chances in the first quarter before Steven Shingler got Cardiff off the mark after 22 minutes. The kick was almost immediately cancelled out with Scannell’s levelling effort coming after the pack had secured a scrum penalty.
Munster indiscipline allowed Shingler another opportunity off the tee and with Scannell unable to convert his next attempt, the Welshmen held on to the lead up to half-time. They might have had a opportunist try out wide from scrum half Lloyd Williams but Duncan Williams produced an excellent cover tackle.
Trailing 6-3 at the break, Rassie Erasmus’ men were unlucky not to get more out of the opening 40 minutes due to some final handling errors and inaccuracy, however, with the wind to come the province did enough to stop their opponents from racking up more points.
Just minutes into the second period, Blues centre Willis Halaholo was issued a yellow card for a high tackle on Andrew Conway, and then while down to 14 men and against the run of play, the hosts capitalised on loose passing from Williams and Scannell with Aled Summerhill intercepting to run clear from halfway and in behind the posts. Shingler added the simple conversion for a sudden 13-3 scoreline.
In chasing a 10-point deficit, replacement centre Saili took advantage of relaxed Cardiff defending as he recycled quick ruck ball to pick and go himself, stepping the covering Matthew Morgan to score under the posts. Scannell added the straightforward conversion and the men in red were back within three points.
Morgan did just enough to prevent the onrushing Conway from getting a clear grounding in near the left corner flag after Saili’s clever kick saw the Munster full-back fly up the touchline in pursuit.
Moving into the final quarter, Munster again played all the territory and held the majority of the possession yet the gritty Blues stayed with them all the way, making the province fight for everything.
Scannell levelled matters with a 66th minute penalty after the Blues were pinged for offside. There was some terrific play in the build-up from work-hungry winger Ronan O’Mahony who turned a blocked Scannell kick into 35-metre break through the middle.
Smart play from the likes of Taute, O’Mahony and the half-backs and better cohesion from the Munster forwards – Dave O’Callaghan and Dave Kilcoyne was prominent throughout as carriers – had Cardiff pinned back in and around their own 22, however as the minutes ticked by, the home defence was holding firm.
Crucially, with 75 minutes on the clock, a left-footed drop goal from Scannell clawed its way between the posts to put the province in front for the first time. The lead, and ultimately the win, was cemented with a final seven-pointer.
Saili raced up to force a fumble from Shingler in midfield and with turnover ball secured on the deck, Academy back rower Oliver broke clean through from a ruck 30 metres out for his second try in as many games and his third of the current PRO12 campaign.
19-year-old Academy lock Fineen Wycherley looked right at home when making his Munster debut as a replacement for Robin Copeland in the 67th minute, clearly relishing the physical stakes. Indeed, four Academy players were part of the province’s matchday squad.
In getting back to winning ways after their second half slump at Thomond Park last weekend, Munster recorded their first clean sweep against the Welsh regions in Wales (since the introduction of the regional sides). This season they have defeated the Scarlets (23-13) at Parc y Scarlets, the Newport Gwent Dragons (20-16) at Rodney Parade, the Ospreys (25-23) at Liberty Stadium and Cardiff Blues (23-13) at the Arms Park.
This website uses cookies.
Read More