Munster perish after Shark attack

Sale Sharks 27 Munster 13

There can be no doubt about the merit of this win, though Munster coach Declan Kidney correctly observed that the game was in the balance for long periods.

Munster kept Sale on their toes throughout the first half and held the lead at the break, their superb defence and opportunism contributing to an extraordinary scenario.

Nevertheless, the will to win in itself was not quite enough and Munster lost the plot when they conceded two second half tries.

Kidney bemoaned the fact Munster conceded a 66th minute try at a time when they were just about coming good. Six points adrift, he rang the changes, introducing Peter Stringer, David Wallace, Jerry Flannery and Federico Pucciariello in one swoop. A Pucciariello mistake led to a crucial Sale try that set the seal on victory.

Munster are down, but not out said Kidney. He recognised the importance of winning Heineken Cup games on the road to qualify from this pool and he is well aware Munster face an uphill struggle now and need to at least beat Castres or Gwent Dragons away.

Kidney is nothing but pragmatic: "If we had got a win, it would have been great, but we never expected this to be an easy match. It's a tough pool and Sale are on top of their form. We need to re-group and get back home to prepare for the Castres match next week."

Sale coaching director Philippe Saint-Andre was pleased, but said there was still a long road ahead: "Munster pushed us to the wire; we were fortunate to get one of our two tries and therefore we have to put this win in perspective. There is a long way to go yet; we have to keep raising our standards and keep our focus."

Sale set out their stall from the early stages - keep Munster pinned down, keep it tight. Hodgson kicked a penalty after three minutes and then got a second after O'Gara had equalised in 10 minutes.

The opening try came from Munster, typically from a forward rumble after Sale second row Ignacio Fernandez-Lobbe was shown the yellow card for bringing down a maul.

From the resultant penalty, kicked by O'Gara to touch, Munster took advantage of the extra man and Frankie Sheahan ploughed over for the try O'Gara converted.

The drama continued when Hodgson kicked a penalty to push Sale to within a point, and there was more excitement in the early stages of the second half, with O'Gara and Hodgson exchanging penalties and Sheahan sent for a 10-minute rest for coming into a ruck from the side.

With the pack reduced to seven, Munster struggled and paid the price for the loss of Sheahan when they conceded a try in bizarre circumstances after 58 minutes.

Munster actually turned possession around when Sale forced a scrum near the line but, from their own put in, lost possession again and scrum half Sililo Martens took advantage of Tomás O'Leary's error to get the touchdown. Hodgson added the two points to make it 19-13 to Sale.

They forged further ahead, when Munster's menacing attack was broken as Pucciariello lost the ball in contact. Mark Taylor got a boot to the ball and Jason Robinson was quickest to react, scoring after hacking on.

Hodgson gave Sale more points with a late penalty to leave Munster with nothing to show for their endeavours.

SALE SHARKS: J. Robinson (captain) M. Cueto, M. Taylor, E. Sevealai'I, S. Hanley C. Hodgson, S. Martens, A. Sheridan, A. Titterell, S. Turner, C. Jones, I. Fernandez Lobbe, J. White, S. Chabal, M. Lund. Replacements. S. Bruno for Titterell (48), B. Stewart for Bruno (55), D. Larrechea for Hanley (injured, 65), D. Schofield for Fernandez-Lobbe (67), V. Courrant for Martens (72), C. Day for Jones (75), R. Todd for Sevealai'i (76)

MUNSTER: S. Payne, J. Kelly, B. Murphy, G. Connolly, A. Pitout, R. O'Gara, T. O'Leary, M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, D. O'Callaghan, M. O'Driscoll, A. Quinlan, A. Foley (captain), D. Leamy. T. Hogan for A. Quinlan (injured, 48), P. Stringer for Pitout, D. Wallace for Leamy, F. Pucciariello for Hayes, J. Flannery for Sheahan (all 64), temporary replacement, Flannery for Sheahan (43-47).

Referee: J. Jutge (France).