Go on, confess it. At half-time, with Northampton 16-13 in front and the Munster set square creaking alarmingly, you had your doubts. An ageing side, deprived through damage of their captain, Paul OConnell, looked vulnerable, wanted (stet). There was usually so prolonged they could censor at the behind of a small frantic, high-tempo rugby, if the foundations werent there to behind it up.
But this was to blink the strength of the breeze floating from the city end and some-more importantly to blink Munsters unusual presence instinct. Where there is a need, they will yield be it plain scrum ball, or margin position, or a receptive to advice footballing preference or a match-turning steal. Call it nous, call it self-belief. Munster had it, Northampton did not.
Think of the series of times Ronan OGara arrowed the round imperiously towards the left dilemma to lift his pack and light the crowd. Conversely think of Chris Ashton, the speedster, using in open space but choice to throw far-reaching to a lock; or of Neil Best using in to strike round first, and carrying it ripped from his learn by David Wallace.
Northampton might have believed they had the set square diversion to upset Munster, and they obviously felt galvanised by the experience of carrying pushed their opponents close progressing in the season. Against that, Munster obviously reckoned they had the backline to open the Saints up, for they did so ruthlessly, all 4 tries entrance from the outward backs, notwithstanding intrusion of carrying to move the menacing-looking Keith Earls to the wing for Ian Dowling only after the break. Four peculiarity tries and this from a group who couldnt buy a touchdown. It says as most for their haughtiness and skill as it does for Northamptons defensive naivete.
Related LinksHarlequins have Leeds compensate with six-try routLeinster cannot rely on fitness aloneSouthwell in the pinkishThat innocence was unprotected early inside of five minutes, the wind-assisted Saints were eight points down, and reeling. It was tranquil mayhem. Ian Dowling tore after OGaras kick-off, forcing Phil Dowson to strike the round brazen and when it strike an off-side immature jersey, OGara kicked Munster in front.
So it continued. James Coughlans retard on Stephen Myler gave Munster territory and after the beat inched brazen off Alan Quinlans take, dual passes was all it took to clear the defence. Earls latched onto Tomas OLearys prolonged smoothness and ran in exemplary centre character with round in dual hands, regulating the counterclaim and afterwards swerving to the outside, creation sufficient room for Paul Warwick to slip past James Downey on the outside.
Only when the diversion slowed down a fragment were the visitors authorised to demonstrate their set square superiority. Their thatch practical the fist on Jerry Flannerys initial defensive throw and the prerogative came promptly. Munster went off their feet at the ruck and Myler kicked the points.
Next Northampton went after the Munster scrum. In a unfortunate action of self-preservation, Munster whip-wheeled the scrum, were pinged accordingly, and Myler did the required again.
While the cracks in Munsters façade were obvious, they one after another to fool around facing in to that breeze, they had small genuine option. They did it well too. When the pack supposing a plain scrum underneath the Saints posts, OGara probed for openings. The numbers didnt have clarity down the short side of the ruck but 3 defenders were taken out by one prolonged pass and afterwards Bruce Reihana allowed Howlett to squirm over in the right corner. Poor defence, but still, the measure of a unqualified finisher, all agility and bloody-mindedness.
Munster led 13-6 and had scored dual stirring tries, nonetheless there remained the sense that they were using from Northampton, petrified of being held in their clutches. The scoreboard was since a some-more picturesque see when Myler kicked this third penalty, and only prior to the break, the Saints landed a big punch. Countless phases after Juandre Kruger had pinched a Flannery throw inside his own half, the Saints in the future worked the overlie for Jon Clarke to run in untouched.
Munster had lost the lead for the initial time, but not their nerve. OGara saw to that, pushing them brazen in cold blood with a tide of ideally struck diagonals. And again, when they indispensable a decent scrum, they supposing it. OLeary petrified the counterclaim with his gait off the bottom and Jean de Villiers contingency have been astounded at how simply his true line punctured the defence.
Myler kicked a chastisement to revoke the opening to one but Northampton wouldnt measure again. Jim Mallinder introduced Shane Geraghty to prize openings but even when they came, Munster scrambled superbly, Warwicks dilemma dwindle plunge into on Kruger a resplendent example.
Northampton kept scrapping but there was right away an karma to this one, especially as Munster were removing the breaks. When Warwicks erring drop-goal flicked Bests fingers, they had a five-metre scrum instead of a drop-out. Once again, a presumably invalid scrum supposing the height for Howlett to measure his second. Never in doubt. Right?
Star man: Doug Howlett (Munster) Scorers: Munster: Tries: Warwick 5, Howlett 23, 75, De Villiers 53 Con: OGara (2) Pens: OGara (3) Northampton: Try: Clarke 39 Cons: Myler Pens: Myler (4)Referee: N Owens (Wales) Attendance: 26,000Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett (B Holland 77min), K Earls, J de Villiers, I Dowling (L Mafi 41min); R OGara (capt), T OLeary (P Stringer 78min); M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes (T Buckley 69min), D OCallaghan, M ODriscoll, A Quinlan (N Ronan 72min), D Wallace, J Coughlan (N Williams-Nanai 60min)Northampton: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke (J Ansbro 72min), J Downey, B Reihana; S Myler (S Geraghty 65min), L Dickson; S Tongauiha, D Hartley (capt), E Murray (B Mujati 58min), C Lawes, J Kruger, P Dowson (M Easter 72min), N Best, R Wilson
No comments:
Post a Comment