Munster pushing forward with scrum dominance

They may have put on a scrummaging masterclass against a renowned French pack last weekend, but there will be no resting on laurels for Munster’s forwards as they prepare to face Scarlets at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

It was their scrum that turned the game for the Irish province at Stade Aimé Giral last Saturday as Perpignan surrendered a 9-3 half-time lead following almost eight minutes of scrummaging in front of their own line.

The French Catalans, who had conceded a penalty try and been steamrollered over for a pushover score the week before at Thomond Park, were put through the wringer again as Rob Penney’s side exerted maximum pressure on home ball initially. A big shove and great breakaway work from Peter O’Mahony forced Perpignan to throw the ball dead and hand Munster the put-in, from where the home side conceded a free-kick and three penalties before referee JP Doyle eventually ran beneath the posts and awarded a penalty try.