Following Cardiff’s 26-21 win over Munster in round 16 of the URC, here are our five key takeaways from an intense encounter at Cardiff Arms Park.
The top line
This game felt pivotal for both sides coming into it, with the teams separated by just a point heading into the final rounds of the season, and the opening stanza certainly reflected that.
Cardiff came out of the tramps quickly and looked to have opened the scoring through Johan Mulder, but it was cruelly, but accurately, stricken off for a forward pass in the build-up. In turn, Munster responded well and made the first proper dent in the scoreboard thanks to Calvin Nash.
The hosts had another try chalked off too, as Keiron Assiratti was ruled in touch before crossing the whitewash after a strong maul. Despite the reprieve, though, it wasn’t the end of Munster’s misery as Fineen Wycherley was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate yellow card.
And the pressure finally told, too, as Gabe Hamer-Webb finally got his side on the scoresheet as he dotted down in the corner. One quickly became two, with Harri Millard crossing just two minutes after.
But, that lead didn’t last long as Mike Haley sliced through the defence to score, with Jack Crowley’s second conversion giving the visitors a slender lead heading into the sheds.
The game felt very much in the balance at the start of the second-half, but a third Munster try through Tom Farrell put a bit of breathing space between the teams.
In keeping with the flow of the game, this was only momentary as a penalty try pulled the hosts back to within two. To make matters worse, Jack O’Donoghue was also carded for his part in the incident.
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Yet again, the numerical advantage finally paid off for the hosts as Mulder atoned for his earlier ruled-out score with a clever snipe close to the line.
This try proved to be the decider, as Cardiff held on to claim a vital win in the play-off chase.
Race for the eight
As with any game in the URC now heading into the final rounds of the season, this result had a huge impact on the table. Cardiff now climb up to fifth in the ladder, leapfrogging their opponents in the process. Their bonus point also puts some breathing room between them and the chasing pack, with only Benetton able to go above them this weekend and that only comes if the Italians get a bonus point of their own.
For Munster, they now find themselves seventh in the table after 16 rounds and could even fall further down depending on results elsewhere. Their losing bonus point is a small positive to take, table-wise, but Connacht, Ulster, Scarlets and the Stormers could overtake them by the end of the weekend.
This one felt crucial, and Cardiff got that all-important win.
Munster lineout woes continue
The lineout has been a real problem for Munster of late, and that didn’t change tonight as they yet again found themselves wanting.
Munster posted just a 60% success rate in the first half (3/5), and within that, one of those wins actually came from quick thinking rather than lineout skill. On top of their general accuracy issues, it was the positions on the field that put their struggles under the spotlight.
Early into the contest, Munster lost two back-to-back lineouts in clutch positions on the pitch. The first came just as they were building a chance to score, which could have pushed their lead out to 14-0 at the time, and the second came within their own five-metre as a wobbly throw gifted Cardiff a golden chance, which they eventually took.
The issues continued in the opening period of the second half too, before they changed tactics to just loop the ball over to an on-chasing carrier.
Ian Costello’s side does have the ability to monster teams in the set-piece, particularly in the scrum, but they cannot afford to be posting success rates like this if they want to compete for play-off places, let alone silverware.
Yellow cards costly
Munster were their own worst enemy at times today, and the yellow card periods proved that point exactly.
The visitors were reduced to 14 on two occasions, with Wycherley going off in the first half and O’Donoghue following suit in the second, and in these periods, Cardiff managed to score 26 points. Yes, that’s right, 26 points – or 100% of Cardiff’s total for the night.
For the most part, Munster actually managed the yellow card periods well too, with some staunch defence while O’Donoghue was on the naughty step, but then again, they just got caught napping a couple of times, and you can’t afford that when down a man.
On top of the numerical benefits Cardiff took from the yellow card periods, the momentum completely shifted in them. The increased space on the field played perfectly into the free-flowing hosts’ hands for the most part, with Ben Thomas expertly pulling the strings in attack to send the likes of Millard, Josh Adams and Hamer-Webb through the line.
These were ultimately the difference between the sides at the end of the day, and Costello’s side will be stewing all the way back to Limerick as a result.
Test watch
As with any of the big matches in the URC, there were a number of players who impressed from a Test perspective.
Ben Thomas was at his delicious best with some silky handling, clever kicking and all-round attacking flair. James Botham brought his usual brand of smash-and-bash to proceedings and helped limit the work of Tadhg Beirne in the tight too, with the Munsterman similarly up to his old tricks. Taulupe Faletau oozed class, as he always does, and was a delight to watch.
Josh Adams grew into the game wonderfully well and had a big impact on the Cardiff attack as a result, and fellow winger Gabe Hamer-Webb was also very impressive all night long.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/cardiff-v-munster-five-takeaways-as-wales-ace-makes-stewing-visitors-pay-for-yellow-card-mayhem
