IN light of Friday night’s bonus-point loss at Cardiff (26-21), Munster are now in a spot of bother in terms of reaching the knock-out stages of the URC, and more importantly qualification for the Champions Cup next season.
The Reds are currently positioned in seventh place, with just eight to be involved in the business end won by Munster only a couple of seasons ago.
The last two home games against Ulster (at Thomond Park, May 9) and Benetton (at Virgin Media Park, May 16) now look like must-wins.
At the Arms Park, tries from Calvin Nash and Mike Haley, both converted by Jack Crowley, left the visitors 14-12 ahead at the interval.
Early in the new half a try by Tom Farrell, from which Crowley added the extras left Munster in a good position, 21-12 in front.
Cardiff, however, did the rest of the game’s scoring through two converted tries.
Costly to Munster were periods in the sin-bin in either half for Fineen Wycherley and Jack O’Donoghue.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey;Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne, captain ; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Seán O’Brien, Mark Donnelly, Tony Butler.
