Munster end drought against limp Lions
MATCH REPORT: Munster started their new era - after the departure of coach Graham Rowntree - with a hard-fought 17-10 win over the Lions in Limerick on Saturday.
Outscoring the visitors by three tries to one at a very damp Thomond Park, with slippery underfoot conditions, Munster recorded their first win since October.
They were aided by an error-riddle performance from a visiting team alien to the conditions and unable to make the necessary tactical adjustments.
It also did not help that the Lions' key game drivers all had shockers - players like Kade Wolhuter, Morné van den Berg and Sanele Nohamba.
Aimlessly hoofing the ball away and tactical brain explosions seemed the order of the day against a Munster team driven by heart and the desire to put a desolate campaign back on track.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
* The article follows below ...
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It was a frantic start, with both teams giving the ball plenty of air.
However, neither team was clinical enough in the opening 10 minutes.
Flyhalf Billy Burns used his knowledge of the local conditions to pin the Lions inside their 22.
And it was their South African import Thaakir Abrahams who opened the scoring in the 16th minute - stepping past a few defenders to go over for the first try. Burns added the conversion - 7-0.
Abrahams then conceded a penalty when he was caught in possession near his line, but the Lions failed to turn their maul into a try.
The Lions' handling errors continued to deny them points, as the ball took on the appearance of a bar of soap.
Eventually, centre Henco van Wyk stepped past and barged over several defenders to go over for the visitors' first try. Kade Wolhuter's conversion levelled the score up at 7-all.
Just past the half-hour mark, Wolhuter put the Lions in front with a penalty from 40 metres out.
It stayed 10-7 to the half-time break.
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Abrahams, the first-half scorer, produced a great try-assist early in the second half when he sent Shane Daly over. Burns' conversion attempt was wide, but Munster had reclaimed the lead - 12-10.
The Lions' error count continued to mount and allowed Munster free entries into their 22.
From one of those error-induced entries, Alex Kendellen barged over after a series of forward raids on the Lions' line. Burns again pushed the conversion attempt wide - 17-10.
The Lions also butchered try-scoring opportunities after about 10 phases closer to the Munster line.
It also did not help their cause that they persisted with a predictable one-up curry approach which contributed to Munster winning numerous turnovers.
It allowed Munster to comfortably hang on for win.
The scorers
For Munster
Tries: Abrahams, Daly, Kendellen
Con: Burns
For the Lions
Try: Van Wyk
Con: Wolhuter
Pen: Wolhuter
Teams
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Shay McCarthy, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Evan O’Connell, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron (captain), 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Ruadhán Quinn, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Shane Daly.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 WJ Steenkamp, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Tapiwa Mafura, 23 Erich Cronje.
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
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