Munster came from behind in the second to run in three tries in their 28-20 win over cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park
They trailed 10-7 at half time and then within five minutes of the restart found themselves even further behind when Ma’ama Molitika scored under the posts to leave Ben Blair with a simple tap over conversion. At this stage the momentum looked to be with the visitors but Munster upped the intensity and Paul O’Connell’s try started the fight back that ended in victory.
Munster opened with a try after a little over a minute from Niall Ronan and held the lead until just before the break when Richard Mustoe took advantage of a rare defensive error.
Molitika’s try set Munster a mountain to climb but they set about their task willingly and after O’Connell had reduced the deficit, Lifeimi Mafi and Doug Howlett combined to send Ronan in for his second try in the 61st minute. O’Gara maintained his 100% record with the conversion and Justin Melck capped a fine personal performance with a try twelve minutes from time, O’Gara once again adding the extras.
Munster: D Hurley J Manning 62 min); D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling (B Murphy 28 min); R O’Gara, P Stringer (M Prendergast 80 min); T Buckley (F Pucciariello 58 min), J Flannery (D Fogarty 77 min), J Hayes; P O’Connell (capt), M O’Driscoll (A Quinlan 58 min); D Ryan, N Ronan (J O’Sullivan 67 min), J Melck.
Cardiff Blues: B Blair; R Mustoe, J Robinson, J Roberts, G Thomas; C Sweeney, J Spice; G Jenkins, G Williams, T Filise; B Davies, P Tito (capt); M Molitika, R Sowden Taylor, A Powell. Replacements not used: G Powell, T R Thomas, S Morgan, M Lewis, D Allinson, N Robinson, T Shanklin.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU).