Heartache for Munster

REPRESENTATIVE ACTION

THE concession of two tries in the last quarter of the game cost Munster the chance to claim a famous scalp over Saracens in the Champions Cup at the Allianz Arena last Saturday.

The sides were level at 3-3 at half-time and Munster led 6-3 up until the 64th minute thanks to two JJ Hanrahan penalties, but late scores from Sean Maitland and Mako Vunipola gave Saracens the win.

It was a very brave Munster performance considering the loss of some key players before and during the game. Peter O’Mahony cried off with a groin injury before kick off, whilst Tadhg Beirne and John Ryan had to be replaced in the 10th and 24th minutes.

Munster went in level at 3-3 at the half time break before Hanrahan struck a penalty in the 13th minute of the second half to push them 6-3 ahead. Hanrahan had a chance to Munster further ahead in the 51st minute when Munster were awarded a penalty after a bout of fisticuffs, but his kicked sailed agonisingly wide of the posts.

The momentum of the game shifted towards

Saracens thereafter. The home crowd got behind their side and Maitland touched down in the 66th minute with Vunipola following suit six minutes later.

Munster were done and dusted although they did have a chance to earn a losing bonus point when they were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute. Strangely, Munster opted to kick down the line to gain territory and the chance went abegging.

Munster are still in second place in the Pool 4 table but face an away tie against Racing 92 on January 12 before their last home game against Ospreys a week later. Munster’s destiny is still in their own hands, although their failure to take a losing bonus point against Saracens could come back to haunt them in the final analysis.

In the meantime, Munster will go back to Pro 14 action where they will face Connacht at the Sportsground next Saturday, Leinster at Thomond Park a week later, and Ulster away on January 3.

Meanwhile, Ultan Dillane has been named in new Ireland coach Andy Farrell’s provision Ireland training squad.