MUNSTER EXTENDED THEIR lead at the top of the Guinness Pro12 to five points with a dogged win over Connacht in heavy rain at the Sportsground.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Rassie Erasmus’ men have lost just once in their last 10 games, with this away victory made all the more satisfying due to the fact that it came without Ireland internationals Conor Murray, CJ Stander, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo.
The weather conditions meant this contest was never likely to be the most aesthetically pleasing, but the visitors displayed their ever-growing grit to secure a second inter-provincial success in five days, following on from the St. Stephen’s Day win over Leinster.
The likes of captain Billy Holland and try-scoring hooker Rhys Marshall thrived as Munster’s work rate was through the roof once again, while out-half Ian Keatley kicked well in general play, as well as slotting 11 important points off the tee and through a drop goal.
Connacht dominated the scrum battle but could not convert their handful of try-scoring chances and made uncharacteristic handling errors. Their losing bonus point means they remain in eighth position in the Pro12 table.
Munster led 6-3 at half time thanks to two Keatley penalties, with Connacht’s Jack Carty missing one of his two attempts in the opening 40 minutes.
The rain made it tough for both sides to play expansively, although Munster made a blistering start featuring several thrilling offloads in the lead-up to Keatley’s first points off the tee in the third minute.
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There was rain in Galway for this inter-provincial clash. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
There was a scare for Munster soon after, as Duncan Williams’ exit kick was blocked down and Keatley allowed the ball to roll back over the Munster tryline and towards the touchline. Kieran Marmion hared after it and stretched around the dallying Keatley in an attempt to dot down, but the TMO correctly ruled the claim out.
Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham got on top of the Munster scrum, or rather in underneath it, for the majority of the opening 40, although Connacht were unable to convert their strongest spell of territory and possession into further points.
Quinn Roux knocked on one five-metre lineout, while breaks from Rory Parata and Matt Healy inside the Munster 22 were not capitalised on as Connacht’s handling let them down in the rain.
Keatley was short with an ambitious long-rage penalty attempt early in the second half, while Connacht’s scrum continued to impress and provided the penalty that allowed Carty to level the game in the 50th minute.
Munster had thought they were away for a try directly before that scrum and penalty, with hooker Marshall’s hit on Carty dislodging the ball, which fullback Andrew Conway gathered in before bursting towards the tryline.
Tiernan O’Halloran was in close pursuit but Conway looked destined to score, only for Dudley Phillips’ whistle to halt him. A marginal knock-on in the tackle by Marshall was the referee’s decision and Connacht earned three points from the subsequent scrum.
Seven minutes later, Connacht found themselves with a five-metre lineout but a rushed pass from Buckley to Tom McCartney after their maul was repelled saw the hooker knock-on.
Munster reacted superbly, with Keatley cross-field kicking to Conway deep in the 22, allowing the fullback to stride to halfway. Williams followed up with a box kick, allowing Munster to chase and counter ruck for another turnover.
This time, centre Dan Goggin grubbered up towards the Connacht tryline wide on the left and the retreating Marmion was forced into touch by Jack O’Donoghue, who arguably never let the scrum-half up off the ground.
Only moments after Connacht’s close-range maul had failed, Munster’s fired. Marshall was at the tail of a powerful effort from the southern province’s pack, with Keatley adding the conversion for a 13-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Connacht simply couldn’t hang onto the ball for long enough to do their characteristic damage in attack, the next thrust down the left wing from Matt Healy seeing them turned over just outside the Munster 22.
A sharp drop goal from Keatley after several one-out phases from his forwards extended the advantage for Erasmus’ men with just over 10 minutes left, the out-half keeping his head down from around 20 metres out and straight in front.
The closing stages were frantic with replacement prop Dave Kilcoyne yellow carded as Munster’s scrum again infringed, but Connacht still couldn’t create the try-scoring chance they needed.
Carty’s penalty did at least draw them back to within seven points, but they spent the final minutes inside their own half.
There was a burst of controversy at the very death, with Duncan Williams sin binned but Munster appearing to still have 15 players on the pitch as Kilcoyne and O’Donoghue (briefly replaced by James Cronin for the scrum) both came back.
It was only a momentary advantage, but Connacht and their supporters were not happy. Referee Phillips was booed off the pitch after signalling the conclusion of the westerners’ seventh Pro12 defeat of the season.
Connacht scorers:
Penalties:Jack Carty [3 from 4]
Munster scorers:
Tries:Rhys Marshall
Conversions:Ian Keatley [1 from 1]
Penalties:Ian Keatley [2 from 3]
Drop goal:Ian Keatley
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion (Caolin Blade ’69); Denis Buckley (JP Cooney ’77), Tom McCartney (Dave Heffernan ’58), Finlay Bealham (John Andress ’71); Quinn Roux (Naulia Dawai ’59), James Cannon; Nepia Fox-Matamua (Sean O’Brien ’29), Jake Heenan (Lewis Stevenson ’73), John Muldoon (captain).
Replacements not used: Ciaran Gaffney.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Ronan O’Mahony, Francis Saili, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams (yellow card ’80); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne ’53 (yellow card ’72)), Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer (Thomas du Toit ’49); Jean Kleyn, Dave Foley (Conor Oliver ’69); Billy Holland (captain), Tommy O’Donnell (Robin Copeland ’70), Jack O’Donoghue (James Cronin ’73 to ’80).
Replacements not used: Kevin O’Byrne, Te Aihe Toma, Rory Scannell, Jaco Taute.
Referee: Dudley Phillips [IRFU].
Attendance: 8,090.
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Erasmus' Munster battle to away win against Connacht in the Galway rain
Connacht 9
Munster 16
Murray Kinsella reports from the Sportsground
MUNSTER EXTENDED THEIR lead at the top of the Guinness Pro12 to five points with a dogged win over Connacht in heavy rain at the Sportsground.
Rassie Erasmus’ men have lost just once in their last 10 games, with this away victory made all the more satisfying due to the fact that it came without Ireland internationals Conor Murray, CJ Stander, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo.
The weather conditions meant this contest was never likely to be the most aesthetically pleasing, but the visitors displayed their ever-growing grit to secure a second inter-provincial success in five days, following on from the St. Stephen’s Day win over Leinster.
The likes of captain Billy Holland and try-scoring hooker Rhys Marshall thrived as Munster’s work rate was through the roof once again, while out-half Ian Keatley kicked well in general play, as well as slotting 11 important points off the tee and through a drop goal.
Connacht dominated the scrum battle but could not convert their handful of try-scoring chances and made uncharacteristic handling errors. Their losing bonus point means they remain in eighth position in the Pro12 table.
Munster led 6-3 at half time thanks to two Keatley penalties, with Connacht’s Jack Carty missing one of his two attempts in the opening 40 minutes.
The rain made it tough for both sides to play expansively, although Munster made a blistering start featuring several thrilling offloads in the lead-up to Keatley’s first points off the tee in the third minute.
There was a scare for Munster soon after, as Duncan Williams’ exit kick was blocked down and Keatley allowed the ball to roll back over the Munster tryline and towards the touchline. Kieran Marmion hared after it and stretched around the dallying Keatley in an attempt to dot down, but the TMO correctly ruled the claim out.
Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham got on top of the Munster scrum, or rather in underneath it, for the majority of the opening 40, although Connacht were unable to convert their strongest spell of territory and possession into further points.
Quinn Roux knocked on one five-metre lineout, while breaks from Rory Parata and Matt Healy inside the Munster 22 were not capitalised on as Connacht’s handling let them down in the rain.
Keatley was short with an ambitious long-rage penalty attempt early in the second half, while Connacht’s scrum continued to impress and provided the penalty that allowed Carty to level the game in the 50th minute.
Munster had thought they were away for a try directly before that scrum and penalty, with hooker Marshall’s hit on Carty dislodging the ball, which fullback Andrew Conway gathered in before bursting towards the tryline.
Tiernan O’Halloran was in close pursuit but Conway looked destined to score, only for Dudley Phillips’ whistle to halt him. A marginal knock-on in the tackle by Marshall was the referee’s decision and Connacht earned three points from the subsequent scrum.
Seven minutes later, Connacht found themselves with a five-metre lineout but a rushed pass from Buckley to Tom McCartney after their maul was repelled saw the hooker knock-on.
Munster reacted superbly, with Keatley cross-field kicking to Conway deep in the 22, allowing the fullback to stride to halfway. Williams followed up with a box kick, allowing Munster to chase and counter ruck for another turnover.
This time, centre Dan Goggin grubbered up towards the Connacht tryline wide on the left and the retreating Marmion was forced into touch by Jack O’Donoghue, who arguably never let the scrum-half up off the ground.
Only moments after Connacht’s close-range maul had failed, Munster’s fired. Marshall was at the tail of a powerful effort from the southern province’s pack, with Keatley adding the conversion for a 13-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Connacht simply couldn’t hang onto the ball for long enough to do their characteristic damage in attack, the next thrust down the left wing from Matt Healy seeing them turned over just outside the Munster 22.
A sharp drop goal from Keatley after several one-out phases from his forwards extended the advantage for Erasmus’ men with just over 10 minutes left, the out-half keeping his head down from around 20 metres out and straight in front.
The closing stages were frantic with replacement prop Dave Kilcoyne yellow carded as Munster’s scrum again infringed, but Connacht still couldn’t create the try-scoring chance they needed.
Carty’s penalty did at least draw them back to within seven points, but they spent the final minutes inside their own half.
There was a burst of controversy at the very death, with Duncan Williams sin binned but Munster appearing to still have 15 players on the pitch as Kilcoyne and O’Donoghue (briefly replaced by James Cronin for the scrum) both came back.
It was only a momentary advantage, but Connacht and their supporters were not happy. Referee Phillips was booed off the pitch after signalling the conclusion of the westerners’ seventh Pro12 defeat of the season.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion (Caolin Blade ’69); Denis Buckley (JP Cooney ’77), Tom McCartney (Dave Heffernan ’58), Finlay Bealham (John Andress ’71); Quinn Roux (Naulia Dawai ’59), James Cannon; Nepia Fox-Matamua (Sean O’Brien ’29), Jake Heenan (Lewis Stevenson ’73), John Muldoon (captain).
Replacements not used: Ciaran Gaffney.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Ronan O’Mahony, Francis Saili, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams (yellow card ’80); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne ’53 (yellow card ’72)), Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer (Thomas du Toit ’49); Jean Kleyn, Dave Foley (Conor Oliver ’69); Billy Holland (captain), Tommy O’Donnell (Robin Copeland ’70), Jack O’Donoghue (James Cronin ’73 to ’80).
Replacements not used: Kevin O’Byrne, Te Aihe Toma, Rory Scannell, Jaco Taute.
Referee: Dudley Phillips [IRFU].
Attendance: 8,090.
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