CHEETAHS 17-19 MUNSTER
Munster have all but secured second place in Conference A of the Guinness PRO 14 after a gutsy, comeback win over Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The plan was for Munster to give Conor Murray a run out against the Cheetahs but to go easy on the lad.
Murray’s first game back, for his province, after the Six Nations Grand Slam was the Champions Cup quarter final against Toulon. The scrum-half was pressed hard throughout the contest and though he ate some big tackles, he was not targeted as callously as by England last month.
Still, at the conclusion of that tense 20-19 victory, Murray badly hurt his shoulder in trying to bring down Malakai Fekitoa in the Toulon 22.
Munster head coach Johann van Graan included the 28-year-old in his Munster squad to tour South Africa, taking on Kings and Cheetahs, but did admit he is “always worried” about one of his star men, and his fitness.
Murray was spared the Kings game and named on the bench for Cheetahs. However, with Munster trailing 14-0 after 35 minutes, James Hart was injured and a replacement scrum-half was needed.
On came Murray and, within 60 seconds, Munster had scored through him. Having struggled in a couple of early scrums, Munster’s pack caused serious problems for the home side and engaged every one of their pack. Murray spotted a gap, sniped and it was 14-5.
JJ Hanrahan converted that score and kicked three more penalties, with Johann Goosen replying with one for Cheetahs, to leave it 17-16 to the hosts.
With 15 minutes to go, Munster won a penalty in their own half but near halfway. With the game being played at a high altitude, Murray fancied his chances and called for the kicking tee. His connection was spot on and Munster led for the first time all match.
? #CHEvMUN@ConorMurray_9 puts @munsterrugby ahead with a monster kick from inside his own half ?
Catch the end on @SuperSportTV 1 and Sky Sports Mix! pic.twitter.com/N3QD7fMRm4
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) April 13, 2018
Van Graan’s men held out for a win that will see them finish second in their conference behind runaway Glasgow.
51 metres and just 15 metres in from the touchline. That was Murray’s penalty kick and that was the winning of a hard-fought match. On to Limerick and then Bordeaux in a big, big Champions Cup week ahead.
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