A much changed Munster side romped to a 33-23 bonus point win over Cardiff Blues in the principality on Saturday to make it four wins from five and move top of Conference B of the Pro14.
It might only be two months into the domestic season but what we have seen from Munster in the opening rounds gives fans of the province great cause for optimism for the coming season.
Cardiff Blues vs Munster
Munster’s Calvin Nash makes a break
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Rogan Thompson
With so many changes and heading to a ground where Munster have and little success in recent years, this game could rightly have been viewed as a potential banana skin.
Cardiff took a seventh-minute lead through a Jarrod Evans penalty after Munster had infringed at a scrum.
Playing into a strong wind Munster were forced to run the ball and a powerful break from Calvin Nash took them deep inside the Cardiff 22. Stuart Berry penalised the home side and Hanrahan levelled the scores with the kick.
Cardiff Blues vs Munster Rugby
Munster’s JJ Hanrahan kicks a conversion
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Rogan Thompson
Cardiff resounded straight from the restart the Irish were penalised, allowing Evans to make it 6-3 to the Blues. Munster continued to ask questions of the home side’s defence with Darren O’Shea and Arno Botha running some good lines and breaking holes in the Cardiff defence.
Minutes later and O’Shea and Jeremy Loughman punched holes in the Cardiff line allowing Cloete to force his way over. 10-7 to Munster as Hanrahan added the extras.
Hanrahan converted a penalty to make it 13-7 but Cardiff struck back when Domachowski forced his way over to make it 13-13 at the interval.
After the break, Cardiff were rewarded with a third penalty which Evans converted to make it 16-13. However and in keeping with Munster’s early season gameplan van Graan’s side demonstrated superb handling skills when Kevin O’Byrne and Botha set up a try for Mathewson.
Mathewson turned provider with a slick pass on the end of a sweeping move sending Calvin Nash over in the corner to make it 25-16 heading into the final quarter.
The try of the night came from a superb run from replacement Rory Scannell who had running support from Mathewson and Dan Goggin before Mathewson linked up again to collect the scoring pass.
Hanrahan missed the conversion but succeeded with a late penalty before a try from Nick Williams gave Blues some respectability on the scoreboard.
The post WATCH: Munster Claim BP Win in Cardiff appeared first on Sporting Limerick.
