Munster Put It Up To Saracens But Falter In Final Quarter

Two Saracens tries in the final quarter earned the Heineken Champions Cup holders a vital 15-6 win over an injury-hit Munster team at Allianz Park this afternoon.

The sides were level at three points apiece following a hugely physical first half, and Munster led 6-3 up until the 65th minute thanks to JJ Hanrahan’s two successful penalties from three attempts.

However, star-studded Saracens showed their European pedigree with closing scores from Sean Maitland, set up by a brilliant Billy Vunipola offload, and the latter’s brother, man-of-the-match Mako Vunipola.

The Munstermen pressed for a response, going for the corner from a late penalty, but the decision backfired when they could have had a shot at the posts for a losing bonus point. They remain second in the Pool 4 table, a point ahead of Sarries and six behind leaders Racing 92.

Captain Peter O’Mahony (groin) was replaced by Jack O’Donoghue ahead of kick-off, and first half injuries for Tadhg Beirne (leg) and John Ryan (calf) proved further setbacks. Johann van Graan confirmed that Beirne’s injury looked ‘quite serious’ and Andrew Conway (HIA) also departed early in the second half.

The Munster head coach said afterwards: “It’s disappointing, we came here to win. We were in the game for large parts of it, but unfortunately in the last 20 minutes they were applying pressure in our 22 and they went for multiple scrums and scored the try that put us under huge pressure.

“I felt their bench made a big impact and we lost Pete in the warm-up, Tadhg pretty early, John Ryan pretty early…we were quite thin there at the end. It was an incredibly tough game of rugby against the champions in their backyard but I’m incredibly proud of our guys.

“Had we gone to 9-3 it might have given momentum to our side, so we missed that penalty and that’s what I said earlier in the week – to come and win here, only one side has managed it (in Europe), you need to be at your utmost best and take all of your opportunities and unfortunately we left one or two opportunities out there.”

Saracens showed their intent from early on and a seventh-minute penalty from returning skipper Owen Farrell saw him punish a Munster offside. The unfortunate Beirne was stretchered off a few minutes later with Tommy O’Donnell taking his place.

Excellent work from the Munster pack, and O’Donoghue in particular, won a turnover five metres out as Saracens looked to launch their maul. James Cronin also won a huge turnover penalty in the 17th minute, with some top-class defence on display at both ends of the pitch.

Early in the second quarter, a possession-starved Conway was nearly in for a try in the right corner courtesy of Rory Scannell’s superb floated pass but the eager winger was dragged down short of the Saracens line.

The visitors were held up before a penalty advantage allowed Hanrahan to kick them level in the 24th minute. By that stage the province had been forced in a second change as Ryan limped off on his 150th Munster appearance to be replaced by Stephen Archer.

Although Saracens were back on the attack shortly afterwards, it was O’Donnell who picked up a loose ball and raced clear. Play was called back for a Munster scrum, with TMO Eric Gauzins happy that there was no Munster foul play as Keith Earls helped to dislodge the ball from Richard Wigglesworth’s grasp.

Conor Murray was harshly pinged for what was adjudged to be a high tackle on Nick Isiekwe past the half hour mark, but the usually-reliable Farrell missed the penalty in the swirling wind, leaving the teams to go in at the break with the tie delicately poised.

A late hit by Ben Earl on Earls after the winger had chipped through handed Munster the first chance of the second half. Hanrahan, who had passed wide to Earls, struck the place-kick well to make it 6-3 with 43 minutes on the clock.

After a coming together of players and a bout of pushing and shoving near the left touchline, Munster were awarded another penalty but Hanrahan’s effort drifted to the left and wide. Yet, they continued to halt Sarries’ momentum with the excellent Jean Kleyn stealing a lineout and then using a choke tackle to win another turnover.

However, the attritional nature of the game was hitting taking its toll on the luckless Munstermen. Conway had to go off with Dan Goggin, one of only two backs on the the visitors’ bench, coming on to win his 50th provincial cap.

With the match right in the melting pot, Saracens upped the intensity and showed their clinical edge on the back of a series of penalties. Number 8 Vunipola broke from a close-in scrum, attacking out to the right and drawing in defenders before offloading one-handed over the top for Maitland to get over in the right corner.

Farrell was unable to land the touchline conversion at 8-6, but the hosts’ tails were up. They developed a match-winning cushion in the 71st minute when loosehead Vunipola barrelled over, aided by George Kruis’ latch. Farrell tucked away the simple conversion to open up a decisive nine-point buffer.

While van Graan’s charges tried to mount a late fight-back in pursuit of that bonus point, Saracens were rock solid in defence – particularly at maul time – and managed to see out a hard-fought triumph. Munster now face a must-win fifth round trip to Paris next month.