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Rugby

14th Jan 2017

No-one could believe how Conor Murray stayed on the pitch after this hefty knock

Munster have some explaining to do

Patrick McCarry

GLASGOW 12-14 MUNSTER

Munster are into the Champions Cup quarter finals and look odds on for a home tie at Thomond Park later this year.

Rassie Erasmus’ men edged out Glasgow Warriors in a tense encounter at Scotstoun in which there was awful baiting and cheap shots littered throughout the tie.

One of the game’s main talking points was surely Glasgow’s targeting on Munster scrum-half Conor Murray. Munster assistant coach Jerry Flannery took issue with some low shots on Murray’s standing legs and general niggly play but worse was to follow in the second half.

Murray stood up to a charging Tim Swinson and took a leading, protective elbow to the chin.

Murray was down for well over a minute but bizarrely remained on after Munster’s medical staff deemed him fit to continue. Fans watching at home could hardly believe their eyes.

Played continued for four minutes before word came from the sidelines that Murray HAD to get off for a Heaed Injury Assessment. He returned after seven minutes in the physios’ room but this may not be the last we hear of the matter.

The first half was a tight, taut affair. Both sides knew the import of the final scoreline with little give away bar a few penalties. Tyler Bleyendaal knocked over two for Munster as the half ended 6-6.

The Kiwi traded a couple more penalties with Finn Russell before the Scots edged 12-9 in front going into the final quarter.

Stuart Hogg was then yellow-carded as he denied Andrew Conway a try but Munster would not be denied, moments later, when Keith Earls’ switch pass set up Francis Saili for a superb try in the corner.