Munster vs Cardiff Rugby

Peter O'Mahony, Simon Zebo and Conor Murray all came back into the lineup following last week's vital win against Ulster, while Mike Haley, Chris Farrell and ...

It had been a fast and efficient Munster attack, with Casey touching the ball nine times in the lead-up. The full-back started and finished the move, initially claiming an excellent high ball in midfield, before a winding run brought Munster into the Cardiff half. At times in the first half Munster looked cold, and feeling the impact of four bruising weeks against Leinster, Exeter and Ulster. Healy and Farrell both gained ground with strong carries, before Zebo's meandering run disjointed the visitors' defence. While the defensive structures for both sides were getting torn apart, the last ditch defence was something altogether different. Win against Leinster in May, and a top four finish is theirs.

Two-try Mike Haley was the Player of the Match after an outstanding display with Thomas Ahern and a Craig Casey double completing the victory. Next up for ...

Healy converted to give Munster the lead for the first time, 17-14. The dancing feet of Simon Zebo on the left wing made good yards before Rory Scannell whipped a 20-metre pass to Jack O’Donoghue on the right wing and he popped for Haley to run in. Casey put a gloss on the scoreline in the final minutes with the fifth try as the scrum-half took a quick-tap and ducked under a defender to score and wrap up a fine night’s work. Evans converted to make it 14-7. Haley hit back with his first try three minutes later after an incredible sequence from Munster. Nearly every single Munster player had a touch as we went through the phases. Healy kicked his third penalty on the hour to give Munster some breathing room before replacement Craig Casey got in for the bonus-point try on 62 after another fantastic Munster. O’Donoghue assisted with an offload and Joey Carbery kicked the conversion to make it 37-21.

Munster advanced to the United Rugby Championship's play-offs when they sealed a deserved 42-21 bonus-point win over Cardiff on Friday night.

Steyn converted Steenkamp’s effort before replacement Chris Smith hit a post following the latter touchdown. Steyn rediscovered his range to make it 17-10 at the interval. Danny Wilson’s men took the lead through a penalty try at Loftus Versfeld but conceded scores through Zak Burger, Madosh Tambwe, Walt Steenkamp and Cyle Brink before Ollie Smith added a late consolation. Evans converted and also added the extras to Lee-Lo’s effort, which came from another Amos break. Fellow replacement Carbery converted to further extend the home side’s lead. Munster’s other points came via three conversions and as many penalties from Ben Healy while Joey Carbery also added a two-pointer off the kicking tee.

Cardiff had little to play for but pushed Munster for long periods at Musgrave Park.

Healy pulled back a penalty to make it 14-10 at the end of the opening quarter before Munster hit the front for the first time after 26 minutes when Haley got his second try. Cardiff laid out their stall from the outset with the strong running of Ray Lee-Lo cracking holes in the defence and quick hands from outhalf Jarrod Evans and fullback Hallam Amos sent lock Seb Davies crashing through Mike Haley to score in the right corner after just two minutes. Healy converted to tie the match 7-7 after just seven minutes. Munster led 27-14 at the end of a cracking opening half. A tapped Cardiff penalty yielded nothing as Munster got enough bodies back to prevent hooker Kristian Dacey from touching down, but they scored after taking the restart back up the middle and a superb offload by Amos sent Lee-Lo over on the right for another converted try after 17 minutes. Cardiff may have had little to play for but they pushed Munster for long periods at Musgrave Park before Johann van Graan’s men got on top and secured the bonus point win after a good match, with the absence of any obvious injuries another bonus as they head into the business end of the season hoping to end their 11-year trophy famine.

Munster confirmed their place in the end of season United Rugby Championship play-offs and kept alive their hopes of a home quarter-final draw with a ...

Joey Carbery’s first act after replacing Healy was to slot the simple conversion and open a 37-21 lead heading into the final quarter. Evans’s conversion closed the gap to six points at 27-21 before Healy replied with a penalty on the hour. Healy’s penalty ended the half and Munster went in at the break with a 27-14 lead.

Johann van Graan praised Munster's 'impact players' after a five-try display in Cork delivered a bonus-point 42-21 victory over Cardiff.

We'll go through our normal routine, but the fact he was walking is good. “I haven't spoken to him,” van Graan said of Zebo. “I haven't got the medical feedback yet. We needed to defend right to the end, though.

There's an all-new half-back pairing in Lloyd Williams and Jarrod Evans, with Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams ruled out by a hand injury. Up front, James Botham ...

“This team and group of players with the same coach and same system has in the last couple of seasons consistently been a top four (defensive) outfit, but I am also very conscious you are only as good as your last game. We have to restore some pride in the shirt. “As a family, we have enjoyed our time in France and I am very grateful to Toulon for the opportunity this season. “I know a couple of the guys there and feel the style of play will suit me. Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young said: “We are really pleased to bring Lopeti on board for next season and believe he can have a big impact here. I can use the experiences as well to take a lot from his game. What a start for Cardiff as second row Seb Davies goes over for a try in the corner. Munster had the final word in the half as second row Thomas Ahern forced his way over from close range to give them a 27-14 interval lead. Scrum-half Lloyd Williams throws a dummy at a ruck some 15 metres out, steps inside and races in under the sticks, with Jarrod Evans adding the conversion. Then, after excelling in the opening half hour, Amos had to be wheeled from the field with what looked like a significant hamstring injury. Munster swiftly hit back through a touchdown from full-back Haley after a sustained passage of attacking that saw them go through countless phases, moving play from one side of the field to the other. Another key intervention followed from the 25-times capped Amos as he denied what looked a certain try by turning winger Simon Zebo on his back and holding him up over the line.

Cardiff silenced the Cork crowd with early tries from Seb Davies and Rey Lee-Lo.

Fellow replacement Joey Carbery converted to further extend the home side’s lead. Jarrod Evans converted and also added the extras to Lee-Lo’s effort, which came from another Amos break. However, Haley sidestepped through in the 25th minute to score from the edge of the Cardiff 22 and Healy’s conversion made it 17-14.