Munster Hold Nerve To Win Seven-Try Thriller

Munster gave retiring duo CJ Stander and Tommy O’Donnell a winning Thomond Park send-off with a dramatic 31-27 Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup bonus point victory over Cardiff Blues.

Belatedly responding to Tomos Williams’ early try, Munster reeled off three converted scores between the 29th and 37th minutes – hooker Niall Scannell touched down twice – to lead 21-10 at half-time.

Fineen Wycherley also scored for the hosts, but Blues scrum half Williams completed his brace before his replacement Lloyd Williams made it three tries each while Munster’s Mike Haley was in the sin bin.

A Jarrod Evans penalty edged the Blues back in front at 27-24, only for Munster replacement Keynan Knox to rumble over with six minutes left to move them temporarily back to the top of the table.

Winless against Munster since September 2018, Cardiff surged ahead in the second minute when Willis Halaholo ghosted into space and his reverse pass put scrum half Williams darting from 25 metres out.

Out-half Evans, who had released Halaholo past halfway, converted and he very nearly set up a try for Hallam Amos before tapping over an 18th-minute penalty for 10-0.

Starved of ball and guilty of some sloppy penalties, Munster were struggling and Damian de Allende’s 27th-minute knock-on summed up their lacklustre performance up to that point.

Just a couple of minutes later, Craig Casey provided the spark for the province amid a couple of penalties. The resulting maul drove Scannell over for Joey Carbery to convert.

Soon benefiting from another Carbery penalty tucked close to the right corner, the Munstermen attacked cleverly through de Allende from the lineout and lock Wycherley barged over from close range.

Carbery converted and also added the extras to Scannell’s second maul effort, with full-back Haley tigerishly setting up the lineout opportunity and the forwards doing the rest.

With Cardiff tightening up their defence on the resumption, backs and forwards combined brilliantly to send Williams scampering through for try number two, converted by Evans. Carbery replied with a quick-fire penalty for 24-17.

Referee Andrew Brace then produced a yellow for Haley’s tackle on a falling Amos – it was shoulder to head but with mitigating factors – and after a superb burst from Blues captain Josh Turnbull, he fed replacement Williams for the levelling seven-pointer.

Munster went off their feet, allowing Evans to boot Cardiff ahead in the 69th minute, but a Gavin Coombes turnover reignited the home side again, their pick-and-drives leading to the 22-year-old Knox’s crucial converted try.

The Blues battled right to the end, wearing Munster down through 20-plus phases until Stander’s successful game-ending captain’s challenge punished Lloyd Williams for kicking the ball back into a ruck.

Giving his reaction after his final home game for the province, Stander said: “Cardiff came out firing. They put us under pressure for 30 minutes but that last eight minutes of the first half we scored three tries.

“We work hard, the backs got some open space and we enjoy it when they get over the try-line. We knew it was going to be tough, they came out firing both halves and fair play to them.

“I just want to say thank you to our fans, from all of us who are leaving – not just me. From the squad for all the support, I can’t wait to come back here and sit with you to support the boys.”

Van Graan commented: “I’m very happy about the win and the five points. I didn’t think we started the game well, we made some errors and you’ve got to give Cardiff credit, we know their attack is very, very good.

“We knew it was coming, but they got such good ball we couldn’t stop it. Then, from minutes 30 to 40, scoring those three tries, we really did well.

“At that stage, it became a knockout game, big moments on 24-all and then the last few minutes was literally both sides could have won it.

“I’m very happy we showed the resilience to come through it and get the win first, score four tries and get the bonus point. I’m relieved.”