Munster salvaged a four-try bonus-point on a very disappointing night at Thomond Park on Saturday with Glasgow Warriors claiming a deserved victory.
The Glasgow set-piece was dominant with their pack winning a number of penalties in the scrum and also well on top in the lineout and the maul.
The visitors led 31-0 after a clinical opening 44 minutes that saw them score four converted tries and kick a drop-goal with Munster sloppy in possession. Whenever the province looked to string phases together, knock-ons stymied any chance of gaining momentum.
Despite having very little to cheer about, the home support stayed behind the team and were rewarded with four tries in the final 36 minutes as Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley and Munster’s standout player, Calvin Nash, all touched down to salvage something out of the game.
Glasgow scored the first try on six minutes after kicking to the corner off a scrum penalty with Fraser Brown touching down off a dominant rolling maul.
Gavin Coombes was held up over the line as Munster nearly responded but a second Glasgow try continued their strong start.
Calvin Nash and Joey Carbery looked to have saved a certain try after a last-ditch double-tackle nearly held Stafford McDowall up after the centre went through a gap on the left wing but the try was awarded after consultation with the TMO.
Miotti again converted to make it 14-0 to Glasgow after 25 minutes and was in for the third Glasgow try on 31 minutes.
Another scrum penalty allowed Glasgow kick to the right corner and Miotti stretched to score in the right corner after they worked the ball down the blindside and the conversion made it 21-0.
A fourth Glasgow try for Cole Forbes after some intricate play on the left wing was converted by Miotti to give Munster a mountain to climb as they made it 28-0 at the interval.
Miotti added a drop-goal on 44 minutes for a 31-0 advantage before the Munster comeback began on 53 minutes.
Coombes was the try-scorer after a rolling maul with Carbery’s conversion making it 31-7.
Craig Casey crossed for the second try on 57 minutes to just about keep Munster alive with Carbery converting to make it 31-14.
The comeback was halted by the fifth Glasgow try as a mistake off the restart gave Glasgow the perfect platform to attack off a scrum and Sione Vailanu powered through to score. Miotti’s conversion moved Glasgow 38-14 ahead after 60 minutes.
Josh Wycherley scored from close range on 70 minutes with Crowley converting to make it 38-21 to keep hopes of a four-try bonus-point alive.
Roared on by the fantastic home support, Nash got in for the four-try bonus-point try on 77 minutes.
Nash made a break down the right wing from deep in the Munster half before Glasgow were pinged at the breakdown with Crowley kicking to the right corner.
The lineout was good and play was worked into the middle of the field before Casey fired a brilliant 25-yard pass for Nash to finish superbly in the right corner.
Crowley was unable to add the touchline conversion as Munster managed to eke out a four-try bonus-point and stay fifth in the table with two rounds to go.
Munster: Mike Haley (Simon Zebo, 66); Calvin Nash, Malakai Fekitoa, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery (Rory Scannell, 62), Paddy Patterson (Craig Casey, 44); Dave Kilcoyne (Josh Wycherley, h-t), Diarmuid Barron (Scott Buckley, 52), Roman Salanoa (Stephen Archer, 52); Jean Kleyn (RG Snyman, 59), Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C) (Alex Kendellen, 52), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
