On a record-breaking day for Connacht Rugby, 27,870 people got their money's worth in Castlebar, but the heaving home support couldn’t get the result they wanted.
Hastings Insurance MacHale Park was in raptures with less than three minutes to go when Dylan Tierney-Martin dived over for what looked like a winning Connacht try, having trailed Munster by 18 points heading into the final quarter.
Those celebrations were short-lived though; referee Craig Evans disallowed the late score after a croc-roll by Bundee Aki in the build-up, as Munster would hold onto a precious bonus-point 30-24 win when Jean Kleyn’s stolen lineout sealed the game.
While a miracle comeback win would have been a remarkable sight, it would have been a smash and grab victory, with Munster deserving winners over the course of the 80 minutes.
Ian Costello’s side were inspired by their half-back pair, with Jack Crowley and Craig Casey dictating the game throughout. Both players crossed for tries, with Crowley adding two conversions and two penalties in a marvelous display of control and skill. If his new contract isn't signed yet, Munster need to make it happen immediately.
The visitors led from start to finish, with Tom Ahern and Diarmuid Barron also crossing for tries, while they had to play 55 minutes of the game with 14 players following a red card for Alex Nankivell, the centre sent off for a dangerous hit on Cian Prendergast, which has seen the Connacht captain taken to hospital. Tadhg Beirne and Niall Scannell also picked up yellow cards, as the visitors finished the game with 13 players.
Munster led 18-5 at half time, Sean Jansen with the Connacht try, and he would add another in the second half, with Caolin Blade also crossing to trim Munster’s lead.
But while Josh Ioane’s try with eight minutes to play set up a thrilling finish, it was Munster who held on for a valuable and memorable win.
Running into a driving wind in the opening half, the hosts were guilty of overplaying in the early stages, and were twice turned over on the edge of their own 22, the second of which saw Ahern win a jackal penalty over Hugh Gavin, which Crowley slotted between the posts to give Munster a 3-0 lead on six minutes.
It was a smart start for Munster, who were playing the conditions and kicking long, and when Connacht again tried to run the ball wide from their own half on 12 minutes, a turnover near the touchline put the visitors on the attack.
A beautiful chip into space from Crowley was latched onto by Ben O’Connor, who fed Casey, and Munster quickly recycled through Tom Farrell and John Hodnett, before Crowley found Ahern on the left wing, and he ran over Mack Hansen to dive in for a try, to make it 8-0.
It had been a sloppy start from Connacht, but they were given their first real chance to attack when an O’Connor kick went out on the full, and two quick penalties saw them earn a tap-and-go opportunity from five metres out in the 20th minute, which they executed perfectly; Dave Heffernan made the initial carry, before Finlay Bealham’s pass down the blindside put Jansen over to score, but Ioane’s conversion couldn’t move in the wind, leaving the score at 8-5.
Munster extended their lead within two minutes, when a short lineout between Diarmuid Barron and Jeremy Loughman secured quick ball, and after moving infield, Crowley’s drag-back for Calvin Nash caught the defence out, before Nash shrugged off a weak tackle attempt by Santiago Cordero, and the wing broke into the 22 before popping inside to Casey who ran in to score.
Crowley’s conversion put Munster 15-5 ahead, but there would be a swing in momentum on 25 minutes when Nankivell was red-carded. The New Zealander could have no complaints after his dangerous clearout on Prendergast, who was carted from the pitch.
When the game did restart after a lengthy delay, Munster kicking game continued to trouble Connacht, with Cordero spilling a simple ball under no pressure, although he did make up for it three minutes later with a soaring leap in his 22.
Cullie Tucker’s side couldn’t gain territory though, and eventually on 37 minutes some aggressive Munster pressure at the breakdown forced a penalty, which Crowley slotted to put his side 18-5 in front, a 13-point lead that was by no means safe given they would be playing into the difficult wind with one man less.
Their lead was snipped down to 18-12 within four minutes of the restart, as they twice took Munster apart down the left wing. First, Gavin’s offload sent Aki scampering down the touchline. Two minutes later, it was Aki’s pass that sent Finn Treacy through a gap between Nash and Barron, and the winger passed inside to Blade who dived under the posts, with Ioane adding the extras.
Just as they did earlier in the game, Munster replied instantly, winning a penalty off Shamus Hurley Langton which they kicked to the 22, before eventually getting a scrum under the posts on 49 minutes.
From there, they took the direct approach with a series of short carries, but when penalty advantage came their way, Casey was able to be more adventurous, and his stunning pass took out two Connacht defenders, allowing Crowley run in unopposed to score, and the out-half converted for a 25-12 lead.
Munster were looking confident, even into the wind, and their kicking strategy continued to frustrate Connacht, with Ioane dropping a high ball in his own half, and the visitors won a penalty off the following scrum. Kicking to the corner, the eventually worked the ball infield, with Casey’s distribution constantly keeping them on the front foot, with Barron bundling his way over for the bonus try just before the hour. Crowley missed the conversion, but their lead was now a healthy 30-12 heading into the final quarter.
The health of that lead was quickly tested. A penalty brought Connacht into the 22, and when Tadhg Beirne gave up another penalty close to his own line, he was yellow-carded to reduce Munster down to 13 players, before Jansen barged over to score his second try of the game, bringing it back to 30-19 on 63 minutes.
Munster played smart, and in the right areas, in large part down to Crowley whose chip into space allowed his side hold valuable territory.
They saw out the rest of Beirne’s sin-bin period, but just as the blue scrumcap reappeared, a 50:22 bomb from Hansen put Connacht on the front foot, and they nailed their opportunity, dragging Munster from one touchline to the other, before Ioane scampered in for the bonus-point try. Hanrahan’s conversion came back off the post, leaving just six between the sides, with seven minutes left.
It set up a chaotic finale, where Connacht thought they had pulled off their miracle comeback, only for Tierney-Martin's try to be ruled out for Aki’s infringement, and although they would get one final chance, Kleyn came up with the decisive turnover to seal the Munster win.
Scorers
Connacht: Tries: Sean Jansen (2), Caolin Blade, Josh Ioane,
Cons: Josh Ioane (1) JJ Hanrahan (1)
Munster: Tries: Tom Ahern, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Diarmuid Barron
Cons: Jack Crowley (2)
Pens: Jack Crowley (2)
Connacht: Mack Hansen; Chay Mullins, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin (for Heffernan, 59), Denis Buckley (for Duggan, 57), Jack Aungier (for Bealham, 57), Josh Murphy (for Prendergast, 25), Paul Boyle (for Joyce, 57), Matthew Devine (for Blade, 53), JJ Hanrahan (for Cordero, 53), Santiago Cordero (for Mullins, 5).
Munster: Ben O'Connor; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell (for Barron, 60), Josh Wycherley (for Loughman, 60), Stephen Archer (for Jager, 56), Jean Kleyn (for Wycherley, 56), Ruadhán Quinn (for Kendellen, 67), Conor Murray (for Casey, 67), Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen (for Hodnett, 22).
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
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