Coombes And Cloete Shine As Munster Storm Past Scarlets

Much-changed Munster outscored the Scarlets by six tries to one in an excellent 43-13 bonus point win over Parc y Scarlets.

Johann van Graan’s men sit top of the United Rugby Championship table with Ulster after turning in their most complete performance of the season so far.

Half-backs Ben Healy and Neil Cronin had key involvements in Munster’s three first half tries, as Jack O’Sullivan (3 minutes), Liam Coombes (22) and Calvin Nash (35) all crossed to make it 22-13 at half-time.

Healy kicked the other points as the stunned Scarlets, who started 11 internationals in their team, were left to rue some worrying defensive lapses.

With the province’s own dominant defensive display and Chris Cloete, the outstanding player-of-the-match, hoovering up ball at the breakdown, Munster soon put the result beyond any doubt.

Jeremy Loughman grabbed the bonus point score and Coombes skilfully completed his brace before Cloete deservedly got on the scoresheet. Healy finished with 13 points.

Munster scored from their very first attack, Healy’s pinpoint 50:22 kick setting up a lineout opportunity before Neil Cronin passed for number 8 O’Sullivan to charge past Ken Owens, on the inside, and go in behind the posts.

Healy’s conversion was swiftly followed by a poor penalty miss by his opposite number, Sam Costelow who had a day to forget.

The big-booted Tipperary youngster made it 10-0 soon after, with Sione Kalamafoni guilty of not rolling away.

A terrific last-ditch tackle from Nash denied his wing rival Steff Evans a try in the left corner, before play was called back for a prior knock-on.

Costelow opened the Scarlets’ account with a well-struck 16th-minute penalty, but Munster’s impressive line speed prevented the hosts from making further headway.

Van Graan’s charges started the second quarter with a terrific try from far out. Healy’s long skip pass sent Nash breaking away from Evans and he passed inside for centre Coombes to finish from 30 metres out.

Healy’s conversion extended the lead to 17-3, and Munster came hunting for more with a Cloete turnover and a brilliant break and kick through by hooker Diarmuid Barron.

However, the Scarlets replied with a try out of nothing when Nash’s kick into space failed to work in his favour.

Young out-half Costelow got the bounce of the ball, broke downfield and kicked to his left for Johnny McNicholl to pull back seven points.

Costelow cut the gap to 17-13 following an offside call against Dan Goggin, but Munster hit back strongly, Healy using a penalty advantage to fling the ball over Evans, and Nash produced an expert diving finish in the right corner.

Costelow missed a penalty just before the interval, and when the game got back underway, Munster quickly pocketed their bonus point with some nice variation off a lineout. The forwards carried closer in and Loughman squeezed over for Healy to convert.

Cloete’s poaching ability continued to frustrate the Llanelli outfit whose execution let them down when they were turned over from an advancing maul, nearing the hour mark.

Munster moved further in front when captain Jack O’Donoghue tore past halfway, shrugging off two defenders, and his kick through was gathered one-handed by Coombes, ahead of Jonathan Davies, for an superb 59th-minute score.

Healy converted and also added the extras to Cloete’s subsequent 61st-minute try, as the tireless South African flanker wriggled free from close range.

Replacement Paddy Patterson just knocked on as he went in search of a seventh try, and Munster’s swarming defence – added to by their bench – ruined the Scarlets’ attempts to gain a late consolation score.

However, there was concern for Springbok RG Snyman whose latest appearance for Munster lasted just nine minutes. He had to limp off, with the extent of his injury yet to be revealed.

Munster head coach van Graan said afterwards: “We are very happy to get the win and the five points. We came here with a specific job in mind and I thought we did that really well.

“Defensively, I thought we were excellent, stopping them quite a few times five yards from our line. We only conceded one try from a broken-field chip.

“I thought we scored some very good broken-field tries and some excellent set piece tries. I felt we deserved our lead and at half-time we spoke about consolidating and we kept going.

“We coach these players every single day and we’ve been working on this project for the last five years to improve our squad, and we believe we are improving every single season.

“It doesn’t matter who takes the field, they’ve got a responsibility to the shirt, and to come away to the Scarlets and get five points is really well done.”