Ahead of the encounter, head coach Matt Sherratt insisted his side had to be at their best against Munster, and they certainly delivered. Tries from Gabe Hamer-Webb, Harri Millard, Johan Mulder and a penalty try saw Cardiff end the Irish side’s 10-match winning streak against Welsh regions as they triumphed 26-21 at a raucous Cardiff Arms Park.
This result also means Cardiff are still in contention for a top-eight spot, despite the shock news that the club was placed temporarily into administration earlier in the month, which was later averted by the Welsh Rugby Union.
With the added motivation of it being the Blue and Blacks’ final home game in the United Rugby Championship this season, it was the hosts who started the stronger. After a brilliant break from loosehead, Danny Southworth who quickly offloaded to Mulder, who looked to have scored the opening points of the evening. However, after a TMO check, referee Gianluca Gnecchi disallowed the try due to a forward pass in the build-up.
Despite the early exchanges being in favour of the Blue and Blacks, it was the visitors who claimed the opening points. After pressuring the hosts’ defence scrum half, Craig Casey quickly spread the ball out wide for winger, Calvin Nash to score on 12 minutes. The Irish province side then found themselves down to 14 men as Fineen Wycherley was sent off for ten minutes. With the one-man advantage, and after scoring a hat-trick last weekend at Judgement Day, Hamer-Webb crossed for his fifth of the season. Outside half, Sheedy was unable to add the extras. (5-7).
However, the lead that the visitors had was short lived as Taulupe Faletau made a brilliant break, which brought his side up into the Munster 22. Then a quick offload from the number eight resulted in Millard quickly crossing the whitewash. Before the interval, Munster found themselves back in front as fullback Mike Haley scored, and Jack Crowley slotted the extras.
HT: Cardiff 12-14 Munster
There was an edgy start to proceedings in the opening to the second half, with the sense of both teams knowing exactly what a win would do for their play off hopes. The visitors crossed after outside centre Tom Farrell brilliantly broke through the hosts’ defence to score the Irish province’s sides third of the contest.
Then after a kick into the corner after the visitors were penalised the Blue and Blacks found themselves metres from the Munster line. From the catch and drive referee, Gnecchi awarded a penalty try after blindside Jack O’Donaghue came from an offside position to halt Liam Belcher from touching down. O’Donaghue was then shown the visitors second yellow card of the evening.
Cardiff regained the lead for the first time since the 28th minute as after being denied in the first half scrum half, Mulder powered his way over. Ben Thomas then converted the extras which saw the Blue and Blacks end their heartache of a 12 game losing streak against Irish sides as they claimed a bonus point win at the Arms Park.
FT: Cardiff 26-21 Munster
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