Munster 26 Glasgow 38
Munster paid the price for a desperate first-half at Thomond Park as they tasted defeat to a rampant Glasgow Warriors and fell off the pace in the race for the top four.
Trailing by 28-0 at half time, Munster rallied somewhat after the break to claim a try-bonus point for their efforts when Calvin Nash scored two minutes from the end, but in truth Graham Rowntree’s side barely deserved a single point from this game.
Fraser Brown, Stafford McDowall, Domingo Miotti and Cole Forbes all scored tries for Warriors in the opening half as the Nigel Carolan-coached backs tore Munster to pieces. Gavin Coombes and replacement Craig Casey gave Munster some belief with tries in the 53rd and 58th minute, but the comeback was halted when Warriors’ excellent No. 8 Sione Vailanu scored his side’s fifth try just after the hour mark.
All this means Munster remain in fifth place in the URC standings, but crucially they trail Warriors and Ulster by six points, which has likely ended their hopes of securing a home quarter-final.
Fraser Brown started the barrage when he scored off the back of a driving lineout in the sixth minute and the impressive Domingo Miotti landed the first of five perfect conversions.
With Munster making errors at both ends of the field, Warriors continued to dominate and the inevitable second try arrived in the 25th minute when skipper McDowall scored.
More Munster mistakes led to try number three when Miotti stretched to score, while Warriors claimed the bonus point try when Cole Forbes touched down just before the break following a brilliant flowing move from the Warriors backs.
It was no shock to see a livelier start to the half from Graham Rowntree’s side, but Warriors stretched their lead through a Miotti drop goal.
Munster finally got off the mark when Coombes scored off a powerful lineout maul. Carbery made it 31-7 with the conversion.
It only took five minutes for the home side to cross again when Casey scooted over from close range following Jack O’Donoghue carry. Carbery added the extras.
But as quick as the hope appeared it dissipated again when Sione Vailanu scored a fifth try for Glasgow, only for Nash to earn a point for Munster late on.
Scorers – Munster: Tries: G Coombes, C Casey, J Wycherley, Nash. Cons: J Carbery (2), J Crowley. Glasgow Warriors: Tries: F Brown, S McDowall, D Miotti, C Forbes, S Vailanu Cons: D Miotti (5). Drop goal D Miotti.
MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, M Fekitoa, J Crowley, S Daly; J Carbery, P Patterson; D Kilcoyne, D Barron, R Salanoa; J Kleyn, F Wycherley; J O’Donoghue (capt), J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Replacements: J Wycherley for Kilcoyne (40 mins), Casey for Patterson (45), S Buckley, S Archer and A Kendellen for D Barron, R Salanoa and J O’Donoghue (52), RG Snyman for J Kleyn (60), R Scannell for J Carbery (63), S Zebo for M Haley (67).
GLASGOW: O Smith; C Forbes, S McDowall (capt), S Johnson, J Dobie; D Miotti, A Price; N McBeth, F Brown, Z Fagerson; JP du Preez, S Cummings; M Fagerson, R Darge, S Vailanu.
Replacements: T Jordan for O Smith (25 mins), O Smith for T Jordan (37), J Matthews for F Brown (47), A Dell and G Horne for N McBeth and A Price (57), L Sordoni for Z Fagerson (66), A Samuel and T Jordan for M Fagerson and D Miotti (78).
Referee: Andrea Piarda (Italy).
