Munster may regret Racing’s late strike
A GRIPPING tussle was swung in Munster’s favour as Conor Murray and Andrew Conway ran in two tries in five minutes at Thomond Park.
This was a huge win for Munster who defended stoutly throughout, but they were stung four minutes from time as Leone Nakarawa’s try earned Racing a losing bonus point, which could be decisive in a tight pool.
Ian Keatley converted both Munster tries from the sidelines, but missed a straightforward penalty in between, which ultimately would have denied Racing the extra point in the end.
“I’m just glad we won the game,” said director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. “We could have lost the game. We could have drawn the game. We were playing against a world class team who beat Leinster last week and who beat Leicester comfortably.
“We would have liked to have kept them scoreless but they showed guts. They came here not just to com- pete, they wanted to win the game.”
Despite the opening 40 minutes failing to produce a score it was enthralling rugby. Munster bossed the first quarter with Keatley and Rory Scannell kicking well from hand, but interestingly Keatley declined a couple of relatively straightforward kicks at goal as Munster sought tries.
After 20 minutes Munster had their best chance to open the scoring when Murray took a quick tap penalty under the posts, but when Jean Kleyn was stopped just short, he conceded a penalty for holding on under pressure from the excellent Antonie Claassen.
Munster were disciplined in their efforts, too, and conceded only three penalties in the first period – eight throughout – and that eagerness to avoid the wrath of JP Doyle meant they benefited from playing the game in Racing’s half for the most part.
Lineout woes haunted Munster throughout, and they brought their total to five losses on their own throws before the end.
But they always looked the more likely to break the deadlock, and their patience finally paid off just after the hour mark. Maxime Machenaud tried to kick off the back of a Racing scrum on halfway, but Murray blocked his kick, picked up the bobbling ball and dived over the try-line.
Keatley slotted the difficult conversion for a 7-0 lead, but four minutes later he missed a far easier kick in front of the posts. But he need not have worried as 11 minutes from time a rolling maul put Munster deep in racing territory before Scannell sent Conway over in the corner. Again Keatley converted from the touchline.
The twist in the tale was Racing’s comeback, though. Having being well marshalled throughout Nakarawa scored from close range with four minutes to go and Teddy Iribaren’s conversion earned Racing a bonus point.
“Obviously with ten minutes to go I’d bite your hand off for one point,” said Racing coach Ronan O’Gara.
“But after 60 minutes the game was there to be won and I think the first score, even if it was three points, was going to be a big score. We just didn’t mentally break them.”