Highlights & Pics: Munster v Connacht

8th May 2017 By The Editor

Peter O'Mahony makes a charging run. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Video highlights, action shots and post-match reaction as Munster ran in seven tries against Connacht to end the regular season at the top of the Guinness PRO12 table.

A Keith Earls try on just seven minutes set the tone early on as Munster put their nearest neighbours and defending champions, Connacht, to the sword with Andrew Conway (brace), Jack O’Donoghue, James Cronin, Francis Saili and Conor Oliver also touching down in a comprehensive 50-14 win at Thomond Park.

Click here to view our Munster v Connacht match gallery.

While delighted with his side’s effort and precision on the day, especially with no less than eight changes made to the starting XV, Erasmus acknowledged that Connacht were far from their clinical best, and come the play-offs on May 20 (versus Ospreys), Munster will face a much stiffer test.

“You learn a lot against a team like Saracens because that’s a pressurised game and if you lose that specific game you are out of the mix. A league game like this, where you have already qualified, the pressure is off. You don’t know what is going on in the other camp. The coach is leaving, it’s your last game. There are a lot of emotions. Sometimes that pushes you, sometimes it pulls you down a little bit.

“It’s difficult to read a lot into today’s game. I’m glad for the guys who started and who are not regular starters. But I think what Pat (Lam) did there with Connacht. This is one of the toughest competitions I have coached in. You never coach against a similar style in the PRO12. You play Welsh, Italian, Irish and then running rugby and then like Connacht, even more running rugby. For him to do what he did in the last three years at Connacht, it’s unbelievable.”

Match Highlights