Munster outmuscled and outpointed the Scarlets in another typically captivating win on the road in the Heineken Cup, bouncing back from a poor start to fight their way to the top of Pool 1.
Ronan O’Gara celebrated his 100th Heineken Cup appearance with 12 points as Munster saw off the Scarlets in a rousing encounter between these RaboDirect PRO12 rivals.
The other points for Tony McGahan’s men came with a terrific first half try for flanker Niall Ronan. It was Munster’s 13th straight win over the Scarlets, who have not beaten the province since 2007.
The Scarlets, who had a try for flanker Aaron Shingler, two penalties for Rhys Priestland and one for Stephen Jones, led twice but could not match Munster’s more streetwise approach.
It did not help the Scarlets that they suffered a pre-match setback with Wales’ in-form winger George North ruled out with a dead leg.
The 19-year-old was injured in Wales’ defeat to Australia last weekend and the region had hoped he would recover in time.
But North failed a late fitness test and it meant Liam Williams moved to the wing from full-back with Dan Newton filling the number 15 jersey.
The Scarlets, spurred on by their first two pool wins over Castres Olympique and Northampton Saints and a record Heineken Cup crowd of 13,183, had much the better of the opening quarter which was reflected in an 8-0 lead.
Priestland was wayward with an early penalty shot but a vocal home crowd were soon cheering a Scarlets try on the six-minute mark.
Will Chambers’ attempted pass went astray with Jonathan Davies hacking on and Shingler followed up well to go over and get the hosts off the mark.
Priestland’s conversion attempt struck the post but three minutes later he was on target with a penalty after Munster were caught offside.
But after that, the white-shirted visitors gradually came more and more into the game after going close to scoring a try on the quarter hour, with O’Gara, Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray increasing their influence.
Munster’s comeback was started when Priestland was forced to take a ball over his own line. From the resulting scrum the Scarlets collapsed and O’Gara broke his side’s duck with a 26th minute penalty.
That spurred Munster into action and their opening try came after Newton failed to find touch from his 22. Munster ran it back down the right touchline with O’Gara and Denis Hurley combining.
Hurley’s excellent back-handed pass was scooped up by the onrushing Johne Murphy and he sent Ronan stepping inside scrum half Gareth Davies for a lovely finish in the corner.
With the superb BJ Botha leading an impressive effort in the scrum, Munster managed to edge ahead the final minute of the half when O’Gara’s second penalty gave them an 11-8 advantage.
Priestland got it back to level pegging 10 minutes into the second half and the Welsh region remained dangerous on the break, missing out on a try-scoring opportunity when Jonathan Davies failed to find Scott Williams tight to the left touchline.
Munster made the Scarlets pay with two more penalties after 55 and 62 minutes, centurion O’Gara splitting the posts on both occasions after cohesive work from O’Connell and his forwards.
Lifeimi Mafi, Heineken Cup debutant Simon Zebo and Hurley were ever-willing runners but six points was as far as the visitors could get ahead.
Un a match that was always going to be decided by small margins the Scarlets got back to within three points with a penalty from replacement Stephen Jones, who took over the kicking duties from Priestland who missed two penalties and a conversion.
But it was not enough as the Scarlets made key handling mistakes in the dying minutes, and Munster’s greater cup experience shone through particularly when they won a relieving penalty from a scrum and O’Gara and Tomas O’Leary kicked cleverly towards the right corner.
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