Cardiff Blues 11
Munster 20
JOEY CARBERY made his first appearance on a rugby pitch since January 2020 and played 17 minutes as Munster edged past Cardiff Blues in the Guinness Pro14.
Carbery’s return after his recovery from persistent ankle trouble is a huge cause for cheer for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after two straight Six Nations losses.
But more pressingly, it is a big boost for Munster supremo Johann van Graan, although he would not have been pleased by his team’s display in the Welsh capital, which lacked accuracy and ruthlessness.
In the end, they did enough to hang on thanks to Jean Kleyn’s crucial second-half try, but arguably they were lucky to do so as Cardiff missed key kicks at goal.
Munster had plenty of early possession and Damian de Allende was a prominent figure.
Throughout the first half they forced Cardiff into some serious cover tackling work with No 8 Jack O’Sullivan also showing up well. Still, it was the home side who went ahead.
Cardiff flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes produced some superb breakdown work and his scrum-half team-mate Jamie Hill intercepted a Munster pass and booted ahead.
Mason Grady also made a clean break. It had been a fine pass from Ben Thomas who sent Grady away and a couple of minutes later he did it again to send Seb Davies galloping through a gap to the line. Thomas’ kick hit the post.
Munster lock Kleyn was fortunate to escape a card for a nasty ruck clear-out of Ellis Jenkins who was again in impressive form. Jenkins produced a try-saving tackle and a breakdown penalty win.
Soon after his try, Davies was yellow carded for coming into a ruck following a big hit by Thomas. A scuffle ensued for which Davies was deemed to be the instigator.
It was a frustrating first 27 minutes for Munster, but JJ Hanrahan did kick a simple penalty.
Cardiff’s Wales wing Owen Lane then rampaged down the wing in dangerous fashion.
Thomas and Hanrahan exchanged penalties before the break to leave two points between the teams.
Hanrahan’s monster penalty effort struck the angle of post and crossbar at the start of the second half and caused a mass panic in the home defence.
Cardiff continued to spoil almost constant Munster possession impressively with flankers Lewis-Hughes and the outstanding Jenkins a thorn in the away side.
Thomas kicked a huge penalty to send Munster five points behind. Van Graan immediately replaced his entire front row and it worked as they crashed over between the sticks.
Kleyn was the scorer from close range after fine approach work from Hanrahan who couldn’t miss the simple conversion. Thomas attempted a penalty from halfway which fell short in response.
Thomas’ next penalty attempt saw him hit the post for the second time in the evening and the missed points were always going to be crucial in such a tight game.
Carbery entered the field in place of Rory Scannell and moved into centre where he was instantly crushed by Rey Lee-Lo. It was some welcome back for Carbery.
Cardiff pushed for a response, but their attacking game, which fired in the first half, didn’t do likewise in the second. Munster were also on top at scrum time in the eyes of referee Adam Jones.
And with just a couple of minutes left, Munster’s forwards got to work and drove over the line to seal victory. Niall Scannell was the scorer and Carbery showed he has lost none of his class by nailing the touchline conversion to deny Cardiff a losing bonus point.
Scorers
Cardiff Blues
Try: Davies 11
Pens: Thomas 37, 53
Munster
Try: Kleyn 54, N Scannell 77
Cons: Hanrahan 55, Carbery 78
Pens: Hanrahan 27, 38
Cardiff Blues: Morgan, Lane, Grady, Lee-Lo, Summerhill; Thomas, Hill (Jones 67); Domachowski (Bevacqua 73), Myhill (Belcher 40), Arhip (Assiratti 66), Davies (Ratti 62), Thornton, Lewis-Hughes (Robinson 62), Jenkins, Turnbull (capt)
Replacements not used: Fish, Llewellyn
Munster: Haley; Nash (Sweetnam 75), R Scannell (Carbery 63), De Allende, Daly; Hanrahan, McCarthy; Cronin (O’Connor 53), O’Byrne (N Scannell 53), Ryan (Salanoa 53) (Ryan 73), Kleyn, Wycherley (Holland 63); O’Donoghue (capt) (Coombes 63), Cloete, O’Sullivan
Replacement not used: Patterson
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)
Star man: Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
I’m not surprised, the guy is a machine. Himself and Heaslip are built from the same mould.
@Dave Barry: You can add Peter Stringer in there too.
@Dave Barry: from the same what???
@Paddy Mullins: Mould Paddy, you can spell it “mold” but that’s the American way.
@Gary: Peter Stringer best scrum half that never made a lions team !!!!
In fairness still offers more physicality than toner , great pro
@burner: Pointless dig there burner. Ah well, whatever floats your boat.
@burner: God I hate comments like yours. Putting down a player with 50-odd international caps and 200 or so Leinster caps who’s been an important parts of some huge wins I’m sure you’ve enjoyed celebrating.
It’s not just wrong, it’s ungrateful and shows up your ignorance. It’s no coincidence that the likes of you offer no evidence and just ooze out to make your comments right after a defeat
You couldn’t just compliment DOC, no?
Five, that’s five years older than Ryan, and gets contract renewed.
Second rows have the longest shelf life of any position, something worth considering when centrally contracting players.
@Phil O’ Meara: Taking Ryan out of the equation for a moment, 2nd row is a workrate position. A locks ability to get around the pitch and work harder than any other player is paramount. This is affected by age. Although second rows regularly play into their mid to late thirties, very few do so at international level.
@Paul K Murphy: To clarify, and this is only my own theory, there are few locks who play at a world class standard beyond 34 years old because their legs go. Paul O’Connell, Simon Shaw on a Lions tour and Brad Thorn in 2011 are the only exceptions that come to mind in the last 15 years.
@Phil O’ Meara: the reason DO’C gets the contract so easily at 38 is he rarely if ever misses a game through injury, while Ryan has been out for whole swathes of time in recent years, barely making double figure appearances for Munster (in three seasons up to this season he averages 11 games a season/ or if you calculate mins played only 8 per season)…
With those sort of figures, even though this season he’s been largely fit. While he’s looking for maximum return and lengthy contract in his last few seasons, any club will be looking to minimise the risk.
I haven’t a clue about rugby but remember him on latelate I think a few years back giving his views on training techniques. Obviously worked to be playing a physical game at his age. Also a great comment on his game something like sticking his head between two arses and pushing. Funny lad. Fair play
Absolute gent on and off the pitch.
Awesome warrior who puts his body on the line for the us, the unwashed masses.
Taking Ryan out of the equation for a moment, 2nd row is a workrate position. A locks ability to get around the pitch and work harder than any other player is paramount. This is affected by age. Although second rows regularly play into their mid to late thirties, very few do so at international level.
He has a lovely arse