Off-colour Connacht fail to spark in falling to Munster

Connacht 14

Munster 19

IT really does feel like Connacht just don’t get Munster. They can’t handle their intensity, their rage fuelled enthusiasm at ever maul, scrum and ruck, their ability to stick rigidly to a simple game plan for 80 unwavering minutes.

Munster came to Galway on Saturday evening expecting more of the same from Connacht, high octane, skillful and adventurous rugby. They had a plan, contain, disrupt and where necessary slow down – even if the odd clever penalty has to be conceded to stop a possible try. In possession, the men from the south looked to kick in behind their opponents, set a platform, force mistakes and take every point on offer. By the 80 minute mark, it was a case of mission accomplished.

It doesn’t seem to matter who they pick from their senior squad – they had a number of emerging stars on show here, including ten changes from their encounter with Saracens the previous week and they still managed to beat a near full strength Connacht. This was their sixth win in seven encounters between the sides and you can rest assured that such a trend will continue under the current management because Andy Friend’s sides are offering nothing different in the fixture.

The seeds of this slow methodical victory were sown early as Munster absorbed some high octane rugby from Connacht in the opening exchanges and even managed to score first through the unerring boot of the stoic JJ Hanrahan on their one visit to Connacht territory in 15 minutes. They got their only try on 25 minutes and bar a late period in the half where they were forced to give away a penalty in their 22 to stop Connacht scoring a possible try, they looked in control with a 16-9 half time lead.

The winning of the game came after half time as Connacht produced error after error in the early exchanges and slipped ten points behind. Munster didn’t add any further scores but kept complete control on the game right to the point where Jack Carty was finally introduced into the contest on 60 minutes. That changed things dramatically for Connacht. It was as if he was the one home player on the pitch who actually understood what Munster’s game plan was and he quickly set apart dismantling it.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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