Munster end their wait as Finn lets chance go
MUNSTER demonstrated yet again that the force is with them this season as they fought hard and defended magnificently to claim the win and guarantee a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in four years.
Against Racing next week it will be about ensuring a home draw while Glasgow must beat Leicester at Welford Road to have a chance of the last eight.
On a tense night Francis Saili’s second half try, the solitary five pointer of the night, earned the win, but Glasgow will be kicking themselves for not accepting the drop-goal chance they worked hard to manufacture with just over five minutes remaining.
Twice Finn Russell, with no great conviction, dropped back into the pocket but on neither occasion did he demand the ball and in the blink of an eye the moment had gone. Finn’s indecision, and an aimless chip ahead moments later, took the gloss off what had hitherto been a fine individual performance.
A feisty first half saw Glasgow start with their familiar high tempo game to put Munster on the back foot in the first quarter before the visitors steadied the ship and enjoyed more possession and territory.
It was also evident from the start that Glasgow were intent on making life as uncomfortable as possible for Conor Murray, one of the players of the season in Europe so far. Mostly it was legal and involved challenging every one of his trademark high kicks but occasionally it boiled ever.
It was Glasgow who drew first blood with a short range penalty from Russell after the Munster scrum groaned a little and conceded a penalty and for a while Glasgow threatend to build on that before Munster finally started to win their share of possession.
Tyler Bleyendaal was short with a long range penalty but then levelled the scores from closer in after a high but otherwise innocuous tackle on Keith Earls.
From the re-start CJ Stander made a rare mistake by dropping the ball which lead to a prolonged period of Glasgow pressure which Munster resisted before storming upfield to launch a series of attacks themselves.
The action was hotting up as Glasgow took the lead with a booming 52m penalty from Stuart Hogg which was still climbing as it went through the posts but dull play by Glasgow No.8 Josh Strauss gifted Munster a simple penalty to again level.
Not only was Strauss offside on the wrong side of the ruck when he started to pull Murray back as he attempted to play the ball – arguably a yellow card offence – but Strauss then gave referee Luke Pearce back chat which saw the penalty advance 10m for Bleyendaal to do the needful.
It was all to play for at 6-6 going into half time and after the break Glasgow seemed on the verge of taking control, adding another two penalties to Munster’s one, and also threatening the line with a barrage of attacks.
Munster dug in though and their reward was a nice try for Saili right after Glasgow had been reduced to 14 when Stuart Hogg had correctly been yellow carded for a despairing high tackle on Conway.