Murray returns as Munster thrash Connacht
CONOR MURRAY gave the Lions a fitness boost with a second-half appearance in Munster’s thunderous 50-14 Pro12 win over Connacht at Thomond Park.
Murray came on in the 52nd minute for his first run-out since suffering a shoulder injury on Six Nations duty against Wales on March 10. He could have two more games in Munster red before departing for New Zealand, with Rassie Erasmus’ men hosting the Ospreys in a May 20 semi-final in Limerick.
Munster pipped Leinster to top spot in the table, running Connacht ragged with fly-half Ian Keatley, who kicked 15 points, putting in a man-ofthe-match performance.
Keith Earls, Jack O’Donogue and Andrew Conway all crossed for tries as Munster built a 24-0 half-time lead, their bonus point arriving in the 42nd minute courtesy of prop James Cronin.
Connacht, who will travel to either Northampton Saints or Gloucester in the Champions Cup qualification play-offs, were more competitive in the second half.
Cian Kelleher and Naulia Dawai touched down either side of Conway’s second score, but Munster added further tries from Francis Saili and Conor Oliver, making for a thoroughly disappointing final Pro12 game of Pat Lam’s coaching tenure at Connacht. MUNSTER: A Conway; A Wootton (T Bleyendaal 47), J Taute (F Saili 59), D Goggin (J Taute 70 HIA), K Earls; I Keatley, A Lloyd (C Murray 53); J Cronin (D Kilcoyne 59), R Marshall (N Scannell 59), S Archer (J Ryan 59); D O’Shea (P O’Mahony 59), B Holland (c); J Deysel (T O’Donnell 65), C Oliver, J O’Donoghue. Scorers – Tries: A Conway (2), K Earls, J O’Donoghue, J Cronin, F Saili, C Oliver; Pen: Keatley; Cons: Keatley (6). coNNAcHT: T O’Halloran (D Leader 69); D Poolman, T Farrell, C Ronaldson, C Kelleher; J Carty (M Boshoff 66) (J Carty 70 HIA), K Marmion (J Cooney 60); D Buckley (JP Cooney 59), S Delahunt (D Heffernan 63), C Carey (F Bealham 44) (D Buckley 66-70 HIA); Q Roux (S O’Brien 52), A Browne; E McKeon, J Connolly (N Dawai 52), J Muldoon (c). Scorers — Tries: C Kelleher, N Dawai; Cons: C Ronaldson (2). REFEREE: David Wilkinson (IRFU). PRo12 SEMi-FiNALS - May 19: Second place Leinster v third place Scarlets (RDS, 7.45pm); May 20: First place Munster v fourth place Ospreys (Thomond Park, 6.15pm). cHAMPioNS cUP - Ulster and Glasgow account for two of the automatic qualification spots outside the top four, Treviso taking the one Italian slot; EURo PLAy-oFFS - Eight place Connacht travel to Northampton, the seventh-placed English team, for their qualifier semi-final, while Cardiff must go to France.