Scoreline masks Munster’s malaise

MUNSTER will not retain the Heineken Cup if they repeat Saturday night’s performance at Thomond Park.

In the end, they beat Cardiff Blues 32-18, and picked up a bonus point, which sounds very convincing. Realistically, though, there were so many mistakes in almost every facet of play and a near disastrous failure to capitalise on innumerable gilt-edged chances that the think tank will be pondering long and hard in preparation for their next assignment — a Magners League Thomond Park clash with high-flying Leinster two days after Christmas.

Leading 14-3 after 20 minutes, thanks to two superbly taken Denis Leamy tries converted by Ronan O’Gara, another capacity attendance sat back and waited for the floodgates to open. That it never happened was due to a number of factors, not least Cardiff’s refusal to be bullied, but even more so to an error-riddled and all too predictable performance by the home side.