Munster scrum half Conor Murray landed a long range penalty from inside his own half to edge Munster in a 19-17 lead that they would hold on to and in the process, seal a home quarter final.
Murray who was a first-half replacement for the injured James Hart, scored Munster’s only try minutes after taking the field before landing the decisive strike in the 66th minute.
🏉 #CHEvMUN
@ConorMurray_9 puts @munsterrugby ahead with a monster kick from inside his own half 👏
Catch the end on @SuperSportTV 1 and Sky Sports Mix! pic.twitter.com/N3QD7fMRm4
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 13, 2018
In was a far from impressive opening as Munster fell behind by fourteen points early on before rallying back to trail 17-7 at the break.
Scarlets bound Clayton Blommetjies rewarded their early pressure by ending a fine 10th-minute move with Johan Goosen adding the extras.
Simon Zebo was then sent to the sin bin for an infringement and the Cheetahs capitalised on his absence with scrum-half Tian Meyer crossing and former Racing 92 player Goosen once more slotting the conversion.
The game turned on Murray’s introduction for the injured James Hart. Munster’s only try of the match followed shortly as Murray broke free close to the line three minutes before half-time and JJ Hanrahan converted to reduce the deficit to 14-7.
Goosen extended the Cheetahs’ lead right on half-time, but that was to be the South Africans’ final points of the game as Munster took command.
Hanrahan got Munster to within one score by landing three penalties before Murray took over the kicking duties in spectacular style.
🏉 #CHEvMUN
What a turnaround from @Munsterrugby. Twelve unanswered points in the second-half, including a monstrous @ConorMurray_9 penalty, gives them the victory 👏👏#GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/Du9c9M0hOJ
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 13, 2018