O’Halloran’s Rugby: Munster Come Through A Tense Encounter

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rsz_mike_ohalloranOur rugby analyst, Mike O’Halloran, on Munster’s victory on Friday night…

AFTER a very tense first half, full tactical box kicking and handling errors, Munster finally overcame the challenge presented by the star studded Saracens.

This game was won by the forwards, especially the back row of O’Donnell, CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony. Dave Foley was brilliant in the line out and in open play and the front row contribution from BJ Botha and hooked Duncan Casey was immense with Casey only having one errant line out throw in the last two games.

James Cronin was not as influential this week as he was last week in Sale, oh and did I mention the colossus O Connell? No need to, he was his usual brilliant self.

Robin Copeland came into the fray and really looked pumped up and ready for battle.
As for the backs Conway really is winning over the Thomond crowd and his display on Friday night will endear him further.

Felix Jones was a safe pair of hands and Simon made one incisive run when he received a beautiful pass from Murray.

Denis Hurley produced his usual shift of honest endeavour, but he does not inspire confidence in the centre. As far as I can make out Andrew Smith only touched the ball once.

Keatley continues to be inconsistent with his place kicking missing four last night, (what does JJ Hanrahan have to do to get into this time either at centre or out half).

The sides went in at 3 points all at half time with both Keatley and Farrell spurning points from kicks, one of Keatley’s missed opportunities hit the post and Andrew Conway nearly collected the rebound for what would have been an opportunist try, but he knocked on.

Saracens opened the second half with intent, when Chris Ashton broke through the Munster cover, he put a beautiful kick through to the corner on the East Stand side of Thomond Park, David Strettle was unable to handle the ball and the try chance went a begging.

Almost immediately after, Saracens had a scrum that Munster repulsed with a pretty decent shove.

Three incidents changed the whole complexion of this game, first there was a yellow card for Gill the replacement Saracens prop, when he tipped C J Stander “above the horizontal ” (which to this fan is a red card).

Secondly there was a disallowed try for the very impressive former Leinster man Andrew Conway, which baffled the whole of Thomond.

Why the ref and the touch judge had to “go upstairs” is beyond me as the touch judge was within a few feet of the touchdown.

Thirdly into the action came David Kilcoyne a man with a point to prove and man did he prove his point, within a minute of entering the fray he had the ball under his auxter and was over for a try.

What do you make of that Axel says The Killer.

Keatley added a drop goal at the end leaving the final score Munster 14 Saracens 3.

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