Sometimes the consequence of the score and the occasion can overshadow the skill.
When John Hodnett barged his way over the line in the 75th minute, it put Munster three points ahead and Jack Crowley's conversion made it a five-point game.
Minutes later, Munster were the URC champions.
Twelve years of frustration, instability, pain and hurt almost evaporated in an instant.
And the passage of play that led to the winning score was simply breathtaking and worth another look.
Under incredible pressure, the team, most of whom had slogged along the DHL Stadium’s heavy pitch for 75 minutes were able to come up with an almost perfect play that tallied 33 touches.
There were also 12 breakdowns, each handing a chance for a Stormers steal or a Munster infringement, over the course of one minute and 18 seconds, during which 14 of the 15 players on the field played the ball.
It started after Stormers out-half Manie Libbok returns a long kick to Ben Healy.
The Munster replacement out-half kicks it long, again to the Stormers 10, who dummies off his left foot first and then re-sets just before the 22 to kick with his right.
That gives Gavin Coombes the time to make enough ground to dive and partially block the kick, with the clock at 73.33, which falls straight into the lap of Craig Casey.
Players from both sides straggle the field and the scrum-half has the option to pop pass but, spotting a retreating defender who can intercept, takes contact with the nearest tackler.
Mike Haley uses Josh Wycherley as the first receiver and the young prop passes it on to Jack Crowley lying deep.
Crowley has JJ Kotze, caught in two minds between a tackle and an intercept, in his eyeline but is able to fake a pass before spinning to Niall Scannell, who is stopped by a first-up tackle, which almost dislodges the ball but the hooker retains possession.
Munster have lost ground but there is no sense of panic.
Ali Vermaak is first on the scene and tries to jackal but Tadhg Beirne and Crowley are able to ruck him off the ball.
Casey feeds Wycherley, again in the 'Tadhg Furlong’ auxiliary out-half role, with Healy in support.
The Edinburgh-bound out-half spins the ball to Hodnett, who recognises the space in front and takes the yards, making over 10 metres before being hauled down; crucially, he has Shane Daly in support and the wing is strong enough to clear out Libbok, who is momentarily in position for the jackal, with Evan Roos providing support.
Next the ball comes to RG Snyman, who plays it back inside to Wycherley and from the camera angle it looks possibly forward but Andrea Piardi, the well-positioned referee, didn't consider it for a second.
The prop is stopped by two tacklers but there was no attempt to steal.
Healy gets his hands on it and has Roman Salanoa and Beirne as options but skips both to find Scannell.
The pass has to be perfect because Marvin Orie is up in the line and a potential intercept threat.
Scannell brushes off Dan du Plessis’ tackle before getting hauled down by Neethling Fouche, again, giving Munster go-forward ball and making the tiring Stormers retreat.
There’s a small element of luck in the next play with Healy’s pass going slightly behind Malachai Fekitoa, who still tries to pass it out.
Damian Willemse’s knock on in the tackle gives Munster an advantage for the next 26 seconds.
During that spell, Keith Earls, who had scooped up the loose ball going backwards, straightens the line, and is not held by the first man.
He offloads to Scannell, who falls into Ben-Jason Dixon’s range but Alex Kenedellen and Salanoa push the lock off the ball.
Fekitoa then offloads to Earls but the Ireland international is momentarily isolated and Vermaak gets over the ball.
Casey and Fekitoa are closest to the breakdown but the scrum-half won’t budge the prop and the centre is out of position for a clear-out, however, he realises this and pulls Vermaak over the ball and off his feet.
The ball bounces up kindly for Kendellen and he presents it back for Casey as the advantage period comes to an end.
Then Snyman turns playmaker and pops to Beirne, who has Coombes in support to clear out the breakdown.
The Stormers defence is tired after a dozen phases and Munster spot their chance.
Healy feeds Haley and he spins a long pass to Daly two metres from the touchline and about nine metres from the tryline.
While he doesn’t completely commit Ruhan Nel he does enough to occupy the centre and passes quickly back inside to Hodnett, who has about seven metres to the line.
But the angle and momentum are in his favour; Angelo Davids’ tackle attempt is too high and Hodnett has the strength to get over with Nel’s tackle also coming too late.
A fitting try to cap an incredible performance.
Watch match highlights on Against the Head, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 8pm.
Screengrabs: urc.tv
