17/12/2007 - Munster 22 Scarlets 13
LIKE a fading middle distance runner, the Scarlets once again failed to last the pace at Thomond Park yesterday.
And as director of rugby Phil Davies picks through this latest Heineken Cup ‘if only’, he will be all too aware of the reason why his side remain some way off Europe’s front-runners.
In the build-up to the trip to Limerick, Davies had urged his players to ‘stay in the arm wrestle’ for the full 80-odd minutes against the 2006 champions. He pointed out that the Scarlets had been competitive up until the hour-mark in the previous Pool 5 contests — out in Clermont, against Wasps and last weekend at Stradey — only to fall away when it mattered.
And so it proved again. When fly-half Stephen Jones landed a penalty to reduce Munster’s advantage to 17-13 with 17 minutes remaining, a major European upset was on the cards.
The wind behind the Scarlets was getting up and with you could sense the unease rising among the home fans crammed into Munster’s half-built new stadium.
It didn’t last for long. As the Scarlets faltered late in the closing exchanges you could also see why Leicester are the only side to have ever won at fortress Thomond in European rugby.
Munster raise their game when needed and with the province’s pack playing keep-ball for the second week running, the Scarlets never looked like repeating the Tigers’ feat.
“I thought the sides were well matched. It was an even game, it’s just that Munster took their opportunities far better than we did,” reflected Davies afterwards.
“I am proud of the way we played because this is not an easy place to come. We stood toe to toe with them.
“But we have got to be more clinical in crucial periods.
“We have talked about it and at the moment we are having a few tough experiences. Hopefully, in time, when we have these experiences again we will react a bit better.”
While Davies will again take a number of positives out of this determined, physical performance, the manner in which his side lost their way with a gale-force wind at their backs in the second period will be a concern.
The discipline that had been there in the opening 40 minutes seemed to be left in the changing rooms on their return; the Scarlets line-out game also fell apart horribly, while a failure to find touch didn’t help matters either.
And it all combined to allow Munster the luxury of not having to soak up any sustained periods of pressure on their own line.
Nevertheless, there would have been a few lengthy sighs of relief from the Red Army after this one, not to mention one from coach Declan Kidney who admitted he had been a worried man at the interval.
“I was worried, alright. Seven points up against a wind like that is not much against a side of Llanelli’s ability,” he said.
“The dressing room at half-time was very subdued, but I thought we took a lot out of Llanelli in the first half, we made them work hard to keep the ball and make the yards and that wearing down process allowed us to get a few more yards in the second half.
“We are delighted. To get two wins against a side of Llanelli’s quality is a good 10 days’ work for us.”
Prior to the game, all the talk on the streets of Limerick had been of a possible bonus-point win to seize control of the ultra-competitive Pool 5.
And with the wind in Munster’s favour in the opening period, a corner try for hooker Jerry Flannery after just five minutes seemed to be sending them on their merry way. But taking a leaf out of their opponents tried and tested manual, the Scarlets looked a side with far more control and patience than in recent weeks.
Scrum-half Dwayne Peel marshalled his forwards expertly around the rucks, while Stephen Jones was a strong influence outside him. And it was the Wales No. 10 who coasted through the parting of the red sea on 11 minutes for a deserved score which kept the Scarlets firmly in contention in the opening half.
They did need to show all their defensive resolve after prop Ben Broster was sin-binned in the shadow of his own posts, but despite conceding a hat-trick of penalties to Ronan O’Gara it was clear the Scarlets were happy with their lot being only 14-7 adrift at the turnaround.
Yet while the determination was there after the break, the composure and discipline wasn’t and it cost the Scarlets dear.
A couple of Jones penalties reduced the arrears to 17-13 after 63 minutes with replacement prop Marcus Horan then sent to the sin-bin for a bout of fisticuffs. But the Scarlets could not make their advantage pay.
The only threat they really posed was from deep through the strong running of the lively Morgan Stoddart, while in contrast Munster’s yardage was made by the likes of the outstanding Denis Leamy, David Wallace and Flannery from close range.
It was a Flannery surge after the Scarlets were turned over 35 metres out that set up the game-clinching score for former rugby league wing Brian Carney on 73 minutes.
No. 8 Alix Popham, who had put himself about on his return to the side, was yellow carded for a reckless challenge and after that all that was left was for Munster to comfortably see out time.
Kidney and Co will now hope the Scarlets can remain just as competitive in their final two pool games against Wasps and Clermont in the new year. But with the hectic festive derbies bringing their own challenges, a testing few weeks lie ahead for Davies and his men.