Error-prone Munster swatted aside in dominant first-half Glasgow display
MUNSTER coach Johan van Graan wants his side to improve their away form. Last night at Scotstoun in the second round of the Guinness PRO14, the South African-born coach saw his side failing to hit the heights on the road.
Van Graan’s side were swept aside by a Warriors first-half performance of impressive, high-tempo rugby. Munster compounded a sluggish first-half with inaccuracy at the breakdown and a critical error behind their own line committed by out-half JJ Hanrahan.
To make matters worse, they suffered two first-half injuries, first to skipper Billy Holland and then to Neil Cronin. Van Graan made key changes after the break, notably bringing on Joey Carbery early in the second half.
After an intense opening period it was Glasgow who had the first chance with a penalty kick at goal, only for Peter Horne’s attempt to drift wide. But when a second chance presented itself, Horne made no mistake with the simple kick.
The Warriors’ points trawl continued with a try by Callum Gibbins from a series of moves that all began after Munster had turned over ball at the contact area and which ended with Adam Hastings delivering a pass to Gibbins. Horne, however, was unable to make the score a seven-pointer.
With Warriors dominating possession and territory it was inevitable that another score would follow. This time the platform was a penalty kick to the corner, then a driving maul that triggered an endless pounding of the Munster line.
But it was a clever grubber kick by outside half Adam Hastings that delivered the coup de grace, the ball sitting up well for Stuart Hogg to touch down in the corner.
Munster then conceded a third try and one which they will not want to watch at Monday’s video session. Hanrahan was the villain of the piece after fumbling a pass in the visitors’ goal area, allowing Adam Ashe to pounce for the score. Hogg converted to give his side a dominant 22-0 lead at the break.
The visitors’ prospects perked up after the break with a penalty goal by Hanrahan, the out-half’s final contribution before being replaced by Carbery.
Almost immediately Carbery began to pull the strings, allowing Munster’s backs, anonymous in the first half, to show their capabilities on the plastic pitch.
Munster had a chance to add a second score when they repeatedly drove at the Glasgow line but a spilled pass ruined a promising situation.
Their perseverance paid off when Rhys Marshall found a hole in the defence to crash over for his side’s first try, quickly and easily converted by Carbery.
From the restart Munster gave away a penalty to give Glasgow the twin luxury of a breather and a kick at goal– the latter, through Hogg, providing Warriors with a three-pointer.