Glasgow Warriors 51 Munster 24: Munster were given a wake-up call ahead of their Heinken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins next weekend after suffering a heavy defeat to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.
In dry but cold conditions, Glasgow built on their slender half-time lead with a high tempo game that generated six tries and to which Munster, despite an encouraging first half, had few answers, leaving the province with questions over their ability to construct an attacking game.
Munster were rocked within the first minute when a pass from Casey Lauala was intercepted by Seán Maitland for the Scotland wing to be given a clear run to line and five points after only 26 seconds of play, Ruaridh Jackson's conversion adding to the pain. But Laulala soon atoned as the outside centre finished off a series of close-range drives triggered by a strong scrum in the Glasgow 22 and an initial break by number eight James Coughlin. When Ronan O'Gara added the conversion the scores were level at 7-7.
Munster threatened again when skipper Doug Howlett and fullback Felix Jones combined on the right touchline. The end result was a penalty and a kick to the Warriors 22 by O'Gara, only for the throw-in at the ensuing lineout to be judged squint.
But Munster were soon on the attack again, the dry conditions encouraging fast movement of the ball, and the visitors’ speed and aggression making it difficult for Glasgow to compete in the contact area.
After Glasgow had lost a lineout on their own throw the Munster forwards took control, marching forward in a rolling maul to create a try for prop David Kilcoyne and providing O'Gara with a simple kick.
Glasgow then showed that lightening strikes twice as Warriors’ scrumhalf Nikola Matawalu grabbed the second interception try of the night after “stealing” the ball from Duncan Williams’ slack pass, Jackson’s conversion levelling the scores at 14-14.
Munster hit back immediately with a run by Jones, but a massive kick from Warriors’ fullback Stuart Hogg forced the visitors back on the defensive.
From a break and clever kick by Matawalu, Munster were forced to concede a lineout five metres out from their own line. They promptly gave away a penalty, allowing Jackson to put his side into the lead. Another penalty for a high tackle by O’Gara gave Glasgow a further foothold in the Munster 22 and after the visitors had been penalised at a scrum Jackson added a second penalty for a 20-14 half-time lead.
Glasgow looked the livelier of the two sides at the beginning of the second half forcing Munster to defend in their own 22 and when Maitland kicked ahead Williams had to use his speed to avert another score. From the 22 metre drop-out Glasgow were penalised at the breakdown and from 40 metres out O'Gara reduced their lead.
Glasgow's high-tempo game was beginning to deliver results and when John Barclay broke the Munster defence from a flat pass, the Warriors moved the ball first to the right and then back in-field for Jackson to cut through for a try which he then converted.
Jackson was again the Glasgow points provider with a penalty kick after the Warriors’ forwards had dominated at a scrum.
Munster were in further trouble from a sprint up the left rouchline by DTH Van Der Merwe, a try being prevented by a brilliant tackle from Doug Howlett. But from the ensuing scrum Glasgow moved the ball wide to give replacement Mark Bennet his side’s bonus try, Jackson’s conversion putting the Warriors into an unassailable 37-17 lead.
With confidence high Glasgow added another try, this time Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg outpacing the defence for Warriors' fifth try, converted by Duncan Weir offset by a late try from Howlett and the conversion from Ian Keatley only for John Barclay to score a breakaway try converted by Weir for the final points.
