Munster Rugby's URC play-off hopes suffer further blow with defeat at Cardiff

MUNSTER Rugby's play-off hopes in the United Rugby Championship suffered another blow as Cardiff Rugby secured a 26-21 bonus point victory in their Round 16 regular season fixture in front of an attendance of 11,250 at the Arms Park on Friday night.

Munster have fallen to seventh place in the URC table with now just two series of regular season fixtures to come.

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The frustrating defeat is also a blow to Munster's hopes of securing Investec Champions Cup qualification for next season. 

2023 URC champions Munster led the game 14-12 at half-time, thanks to tries from Calvin Nash and Mike Haley, both of which were converted by Jack Crowley. 

A Tom Farrell try in the 49th minute, again converted by Crowley, had Munster 21-12 in front. However, Cardiff, who had recorded just one win in their eight most recent meetings with Munster, hit back with two converted tries to seal a maximum five point haul from the game.

Munster, who saw their 10-game unbeaten run against Welsh sides ended, have now won just one of their last five URC fixtures. 

Munster had two players in the sin-bin during the course of the game, Fineen Wycherley, in the opening half, and Jack O'Donoghue in the second when, following a lengthy TMO review, the match officials deemed him to be offside when preventing hooker Liam Belcher grounding the ball in the left corner. Cardiff were also awarded a penalty try as a result.

The visitors conceded the vast majority of points during the periods when Munster were down to 14 players. 

Munster could slip out of the top eight play-off places, depending on results in the remaining games in Round 16 on Saturday.

Munster's remaining two regular season games are at home, against Ulster at Thomond Park on Friday, May 9, 7.35pm and against Benetton Rugby at Virgin Media Park in Cork on May 16, 8pm kick-off.

Visitors Munster opened the scoring at the Arms Park on Friday night as Craig Casey and Calvin Nash, who were among seven changes made to the side from the defeat to the Bulls six days earlier, combined for the latter to score. 

However, Munster were down to 14 players when lock Wycherley was yellow carded and the home side hit back with two tries in four minutes as Hamer-Webb and Millard dotted down. 

To their credit, Munster hit back with two tries, scored either side of half-time to lead 21-12. Full-back Mike Haley barged over to regain the lead that was extended to nine points by centre Farrell's smart burst and Crowley's third successful conversion.

But within minutes, Cardiff were back in the game as the home side was awarded a penalty try, with flanker O'Donoghue sent to the sin-bin.

Cardiff scrum-half Mulder then blitzed over from the base of a ruck for what would prove the winning try.

Munster pushed hard in the closing minutes for a crucial try, but despite racking up some 23 phases, Cardiff's defence held the visitors at bay.

After a searching schedule of fixtures in April, Munster have no fixture next weekend with the Champions Cup semi-finals taking centre stage.

After that it's that crucial home interprovincial derby meeting with Ulster at Thomond Park on Friday, May 9.

SCORERS: Cardiff Rugby: Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Harri Millard, Johan Mulder try each, pen try, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas con each. Munster Rugby: Calvin Nash, Mike Haley, Tom Farrell try each, Jack Crowley three cons. 

CARDIFF RUGBY: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabe Hamer-Webb; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (Capt), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Rhys Litterick for Assiratti (21-33 mins), Ben Donnell for Young, Corey Domachowski for Southworth (both 49 mins), Evan Lloyd for Belcher, Rhys Litterick for Assiratti (both 59 mins), Alun Lawrence for Faletau (63 mins), Rory Thornton for McNally, Aled Davies for Mulder (both 74 mins).

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (Capt); Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron for Scannell (50 mins), Sean O'Brien for Nankivell, Jean Kleyn for Wycherley, Ruadhan Quinn for Kendellen (all 59 mins), Mark Donnelly for Milne (64 mins), Ronan Foxe for Ryan (74 mins), Tony Butler for Haley (74 mins).

REFEREE: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)