Munster scrum-half Alby Mathewson flings 30-yard ‘quarterback’ pass

Patrick McCarry

…. and it found a teammate!

Munster are without the scrum-half, and generalship, services of Conor Murray for the foreseeable future but, in Alby Mathewson, they have got a replacement that backs himself.

Alby Mathewson has played Super Rugby, has lined out for Toulon and five Test caps for the All Blacks. In short, the 32-year-old Kiwi is pretty handy.

Signed on a short-term contract while Murray recovers from a neck injury, Mathewson made his Munster debut. On a brisk Saturday evening at Thomond Park, he made his first big impacts.

Munster got off to a flyer against an Ulster side not long back from a two-game spin to South Africa. Peter O’Mahony secured a turnover in his own half and a smart kick up the oppsite flank, after some slick handling, released Alex Wootton.

The winger, in for the injured Mike Haley, found centre Dan Goggin in support and it was 5-0. Joey Carbery added the extra and did so again, soon after, when Tommy O’Donnell’s line-break punished Ulster again.

What a start for @Munsterrugby!!!

Alex Wootton turns on the after burners to relase Dan Goggin for an easy finish.

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— eir Sport (@eirSport) September 29, 2018

O’Mahony would soon fashion another scoring chance – a successful Carbery penalty – but before all that, Mathewson showed off some Kiwi flair.

The ball was kicked out by Billy Burns and while just about every person in the ground expected a lineout, the Munster No.9 thought, ‘Hah, I’ll find Rory Scannell here’.

Mathewson unfurled a gem of a quarterback pass and, for his sake, he was blessed Scannell was wide to it and clung on.

Credit: eir Sport

The attack was on again and Ulster were scrambling. This is how the New Zealanders do it.

The QB pass definitely got some love.