Gritty Munster performance enough to take the spoils against Scarlets

Johann van Graan’s side took another step closer to a home 1/4 final with a 19-7 win over Scarlets at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Another tentative start saw Munster concede possession, 2 penalties and kick the ball out on the full inside the opening five minutes. The latter penalty presented Rhys Patchell with a kickable three points but the out half instead went for the corner.

The visitors won the lineout but kicked into touch having switched play to the opposite side. Munster claimed the lineout and cleared via a Hart box kick.

It only delayed the visitors by a couple of minutes as the a Keatley 22 found Aaron Shingler who ran back hard at the Munster defence. Some incisive running cut through the Munster backline with ease and James Davies was on the end of a slick off load to touch down for the opening try with Patchell adding and easy conversion to make it 0-7 to the Scarlets.

The opening fifteen minutes were poor from a Munster point of view with a defence that looked at sixes and sevens trying to cope with a Scarlets side that constantly seemed to have worked overlaps out wide.

Munster were struggling and with Scarlets looking odds on add to their opening try, Alex Wootton intercepted to run under the posts. Despite attempts to take a quick conversion, Marius Mitrea called for the TMO who’s reply showed the ball coming off Wootton’s upper arm as he knocked on in the act of the interception.

The home side desperately needed a spark and a scrum penalty saw Keatley kick to the corner. A penalty from the maul saw Keatley repeat the dose and once more kick to the corner and opt for the lineout attacking platform. Scarlets managed a decent defence of the maul and when the dust settled Munster were held up and forced back to a 5 metre scrum.

Munster’s scrum was one of the better aspects of a poor opening 27 minutes and with a penalty advantage from a solid drive, James Hart broke down the short side for a sniping try. Keatley pulled the conversion left and wide but Munster were back in the game.

The home side had settled the nerves somewhat with some extended spells of possession and a defence that was slowly starting to get to grips with the current champions. Robin Copeland was penalised for taking out the scrum half and Patchell stepped to kick the three pointer but it rebounded off the upright and Munster cleared.

A superb lung bursting break from Jack O’Donoghue ignited the crowd with half time fast approaching but it came to nothing as the move was halted by a knock on.

Scarlets would go into the break with a 7-5 lead while Munster would have been happy to be only two points down considering their lack of quality possession or territory. Munster’s first half metres carried of 108 was testament to their struggles with the Scarlets racking up 225.

In intercept from Robin Copeland on Munster’s 22 saw James Hart kick ahead with the Scarlets backline absent. Tom Varndell could only kick the ball to touch and Munster finally had a real attacking platform.

Several phases later and Scarlets were penalised for offside. Keatley kicked for the corner and won the pack claimed the lineout. A series of solid carries resulted in Copeland being on the end of the move to burrow over and when Keatley added the extras, Munster held and an unlikely 12-7 lead.

The score came at a cost thought as Tommy O’Donnell was forced of injured to be replaced by Dave O’Callaghan. With the squad depleted as it is, Johann van Graan could ill afford any more withdrawals.

The game was still well in the balance as the Scarlets still enjoyed the lions share of the possession. Despite this, a superb Dave O’Callaghan break up the middle saw James Hart take the offload only to get held up five metres short of the line.

Some excellent recycling say James Cronin over for the try or so we thought. With Keatley about the take the conversion, the TMO called the play back for an apparent double movement in the act of scoring the try.

Matteo Liperini was certainly not the most popular man in Thomond Park but what made it worse what that Marius Mitrea agreed with him and awarded a penalty to the Scarlets for a double movement against Cronin. It was a terribly poor decision and one that will surely have the match assessor having a word with the Italian TMO.

A lightening JJ Hanrahan break took Munster all the way up to the Scarlets line and after a series of sustained pressure, Stephen Fitzgerald whipped a superb pass to the left wing for Alex Wootton to dot down but not without getting the nod from the TMO who was now gleefully playing the role of pantomime villain. Keatley converted and Munster led 19-7.

Sam Arnold tried to add a fourth try but his gallop was halted short and Munster penalised for holding on. With both sides trying in vain to get bonus points, JJ Hanrahan finally ended the game with a kick to touch.

The win takes Munster one step closer to a home quarter final with the South African tour to come after next week’s European action.