Munster go from passion play to kitchen sink drama

From passion play to kitchen sink drama, Munster are beginning to show they can turn their hand to any script.

Six days on from their thrilling, emotionally-charged European victory over Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park, Rassie Erasmus’s men turned back to domestic matters and switched characters to grind out a gritty, power-packed win in Belfast.

That they did it against Guinness Pro12 leaders Ulster would have been kudos enough for director of rugby Erasmus but for Munster to have backed up their wonderful, sorrow-filled Champions Cup performance, just 24 hours after their head coach Anthony Foley was laid to rest, with such a dogged display on the road against interprovincial rivals added another level of accomplishment to the remarkable story of these past two weeks.

Normal service resumed? A week ago, Ulster supporters to a person had sung the Fields of Athenry in their own tribute to former Ireland No. 8 but the sympathies and condolences understandably ended once Nigel Owens sounded the first whistle last night. Munster’s players may have been through the mill since the sudden death of their friend and mentor Foley but they will have expected no favours up north. That was never going to happen in an arena like Ravenhill and in an Irish derby to boot.

Both sides were missing some international class, although that did no detract from the tension, merely the quality of play. Munster travelled without CJ Stander, Simon Zebo, Conor Murray and the suspended Keith Earls while last Saturday’s man of the match Tyler Bleyendaal was rested after his Thomond Park heroics against Glasgow. While Ulster were playing without Ireland captain Rory Best, Jared Payne and injured stars Iain Henderson and Stuart Olding.

The visitors, much as they had done at Leinster earlier this month, had dominated possession and territory without anything to show for it on the scoreboard while in direct contrast Ulster were ruthlessly clinical. Les Kiss’s side jumped out into a 14-0 lead, making maximum capital from their two visits to the opposition 22, courtesy of some awful Munster defending.

They went behind in the fifth minute after a miscommunication between full-back Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam saw them both contest Paddy Jackson’s crossfield kick to the left wing, allowing Craig Gilroy to bat the ball into the path of Charles Piutau, the All Black shown a clear path to the try line in Conway’s absence.

Munster, meanwhile, were enjoying the lion’s share of the ball but were unable to translate it into points, Ulster’s defensive rearguard repeatedly thwarting them and forcing an early but wayward drop-goal attempt from stand-in fly-half Ian Keatley just nine minutes in.

It was quickly turning into a war of attrition, interestingly played out by an All-Munster-born pack and an Ulster set of forwards featuring just one native of their province, Roger Wilson at No.8.

Those forwards spent much of the first half in their own half yet were leading 7-0 with half-time approaching, Munster unable to capitalise.

The home side showed them the error of their ways, taking another seven points from their next, rare visit to the Munster 22, a penalty lineout and maul on the five-metre line halted but loose ball collected by early replacement back Rob Lyttle, who skipped through the scrambling tackles of Tommy O’Donnell, Dave Kilcoyne and Ian Keatley to score under the posts.

Jackson’s conversion put Ulster in the driving seat at 14-0 but then, finally, Munster’s effort was rewarded, a Rory Scannell try in the corner on the stroke of half-time leaving Erasmus’s side 14-5 down at the interval.

If Munster had made life difficult for themselves in the opening 40 minutes, it would be Ulster’s turn in the second period.

The mistakes were now being made by the home side, and when Jaco Taute struck in the 64th minute, the tide had turned Munster’s way.

The score stemmed this time from Ulster miscommunication in the backline, a short Jackson pass hitting Tommy Bowe and turning the ball over, Munster driving a lineout maul into the 22, then gaining more ground before the South African centre got over the line for his third try in as many games.

Rory Scannell took over the kicking duties from Keatley, his conversion pushing Munster to within two points of Ulster, and with six minutes to go, Munster’s maul did the trick once more as the visitors sniffed out the winning points. They wasted little time getting themselves upfield and into position for Scannell to drop into the pocket, just outside the Ulster 22, the centre showing his composure to swing his left boot and send a drop goal between the posts, sending Munster to another remarkable yet very different victory.