Victory not enough for Munster to secure first place in Pro 14 standings

Munster defeated Interpro rivals Connacht 27-14 in the final game of the Guinness Pro 14 tonight but it wasn’t enough to secure home advantage for the knockout stages.

They now face Benetton Rugby next Saturday in Thomond Park.

With bots sides assured of their places in the knockout stages of the competition, the game started in lacklustre fashion with twenty minutes on the clock before Tyler Bleyendaal opening Munster’s account with a penalty.

Three minutes later Connacht get their opening score of the game with prop Finlay Bealham dotting down with the conversion added.

Andrew Conway looked set to get Munster’s first try on 26 minutes but ex-Munster man Stephen Fitzgerald forced a fumble with the winger almost certain to touch down.

Tadgh Beirne would make up for this five minutes later to give Munster the lead before Bleyendaal added the extra two.

Mike Haley would get Munster’s second try on 36 minutes after some fine interplay with Conway with Bleyendaal imperious from the tee again.

Connacht did have a chance to reduce the gap prior to the break with Dean’s kick missing the target, leaving the score 17-7 in favour of Munster at the half.

Once again both sides were slow to start on the resumption with Bleyendaal getting the first score of the half on 54 minutes to push Munster’s lead out to thirteen.

Connacht had their opening score of the half on 69 minutes with Eoin MacKeown barging over before Dean converted to reduce the deficit to 20-12.

Prior to the Connacht try Munster were reduced to 14-men with Jeremy Loughman entering the sin-bin. However despite the numerical disadvantage, JJ Hanrahan crossed the whitewash for his sides third try before converting it himself.

On 74 minutes, Craig Casey, who was a late inclusion in the squad after Conor Murray pulled up in the warm-up, made his debut for Munster, with the young prospect a star for the Irish U20s in their Grand Slam victory earlier this year.

Munster would go on to seal the 27-14 victory and cement their place in second place in Conference A of the Guinness Pro 14.

Glasgow’s result against Edinburgh means they stay top and confirms Munster’s quarter final against Benetton Treviso next Saturday in Thomond Park.