Following a 29-8 victory for Munster over the Scarlets, here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship encounter at Thomond Park on Saturday.
The top line
Munster were thankful for a strong second half as their fine URC form continued following a comfortably triumph over the Scarlets.
It was certainly a scrappy and lacklustre opening 40 minutes as the Irish province controlled matters without really denting the visiting defence enough. To their credit, the Welsh team defended stoutly despite being on the back foot for most of the half. Shay McCarthy’s well-worked try was the only time they were breached, while Ioan Lloyd’s three-pointer gave them hope going into the second period.
But that was quickly extinguished as Munster dominated after the break and had the game won by the 65th minute as Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen powered over. Tom Farrell then crossed the whitewash with the last move of the match to rubberstamp another win for the Irishmen, rendering Macs Page’s superb try moot.
Increasing the tempo
It is fair to say that the first half was rather lacking in energy. Following the Six Nations excitement, it was a bit ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ with both teams lacking in intensity and physicality. Munster were no doubt the better side and were rewarded with a first-half try for McCarthy, but everyone knew there was much more to come
Some stern words were evidently said at half-time as there was a huge improvement after the break. The tempo increased, the execution was far better and, as a result, it yielded three tries in a superb 20-minute spell. Ultimately, when they moved up the gears, the Scarlets had little answer, despite a fine individual try from the hugely gifted Page.
Munster’s back-five stars
With the Six Nations currently going on, Munster will be thankful that their fringe players have not received Ireland recognition. While they are deprived of Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne, there is no doubt that the back five is a huge strength for Ian Costello’s men.
Coombes and Kendellen are two players who could count themselves very unfortunate not to be involved with the international set-up, but their loss is very much Munster’s game. The physicality that both players brought in the second period played a key role in their improvement, with the number eight going over twice and the flanker also touching down.
They were ably supported by Tom Ahern at lock – before he went off for a HIA – and Fineen Wycherley, who put themselves about. John Hodnett came on for Ahern and added real impact, while the other back-five replacement, Brian Gleeson, was also impressive. Munster have real quality in those positions.
Gallant losers
Dwayne Peel’s men have been much better this season than that rather patronising phrase would suggest, but that’s what it felt like in Limerick. The effort was there and the desire could not be questioned, but the quality was simply absent as they struggled once Munster upped their intensity.
They were hampered by the absence of backline stars Eddie James, Blair Murray and Tom Rogers, while prop Henry Thomas also remained with Wales. Considering the lack of depth in the regions due to the financial restrictions, the Six Nations period is no doubt a bigger problem for them than it is Munster, but they weren’t exactly decimated.
If anything, it simply showed where they are currently at in their journey. While they have enjoyed an improved campaign so far, the Llanelli outfit simply aren’t quite good enough to compete with the very best, especially when down a few key players.
State of play
Munster have endured a tumultuous campaign so far but they are well set for a title surge as the URC heads towards a crucial part of the season. With seven matches remaining, they are just three points behind the top-four having won four of their past five games and, most crucially, are now playing well.
As for the Scarlets, they are hanging on in the top-eight, but the Lions, who are just four points in arrears, have two games in hand. There are also a number of other excellent sides ready to pounce, such as Edinburgh and the Stormers, should the Welsh region falter over the next few rounds. It is shaping up to an exciting end to the season.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/munster-v-scarlets-five-takeaways-as-back-five-stars-give-irish-side-energy-and-intensity-after-lacklustre-first-half
