Munster 17 Scarlets 6
Munster have climbed to third in the overnight standings as they ground down the Scarlets at Thomond Park.
Andrew Smith’s first half try proved decisive, while JJ Hanrahan kicked four penalties to help the home side to their second home win of the season.
Skipper Peter O'Mahony impressed in his first start of the season just a week out from his side's European Champions Cup opener against Sale Sharks, while Anthony Foley also handed a first cap to Argentinian hooker Eusebio Guinazu.
On a beautifully still night in Limerick, the visitors took an early lead in the second minute through Rhys Priestland. The Welsh outhalf made it 3-0 with a drop goal from the 10 metre line on the right, taken with the knowledge that there was a penalty for offside up for grabs had he missed the target.
What followed was a lengthy period of tactical kicking from both sides. Munster coach Foley has repeatedly called on his side to play the game in the right areas of the pitch, and last night they seemed intent on dominating the territorial battle.
And the home side’s persistence finally paid off in the 21st minute when Rhodri Jones was penalised for not rolling away from his tackle on CJ Stander, and this time Hanrahan made no mistake from 35 metres out.
As they did against Leinster last week, there was plenty of enthusiasm on view around the breakdown from Munster, but at times their failure to immediately roll away cost them with the concession of penalties.
But once they drew level, Munster got on top of their hosts and they soon pulled clear with the game’s first try in the 26th minute. And it was a thing of beauty in the eyes of the province’s supporters as the home side rolled through 24 phases of pick-and-goes and short passes to big ball carriers, before they pounced when the space appeared out wide.
Stander and Kevin O'Byrne made the big decisive break through the Scarlets cover, and as the phases continued to arrive in quick succession even the efforts of Jake Ball to kill the ball couldn't stop Hanrahan sending Andrew Smith over the right corner for his second try in a red shirt.
Hahrahan missed the tough conversion from the sideline as Munster’s lead stayed at 8-3, but after Priestland missed penalties in the 28th and 35th minutes - both awarded for failing to roll away - the Welsh international made it 8-6 at the interval with another penalty two minutes from the break.
Munster were utterly dominant in the scrum in the first half as Dave Kilcoyne, O'Byrne and BJ Botha hammered their experienced opponents. And straight after the restart they underlined their dominance - Phil John lost his bind under pressure from Botha - and Hanrahan kicked the penalty from the left for an 11-6 advantage.
Five minutes later Hanrahan hooked another penalty wide from the left following a huge carry from Kilcoyne, but once Liam Williams was penalised in the 47th minute under his posts Hanrahan easily pushed it out to 14-6.
With injury concerns surrounding Damien Varley and Duncan Casey ahead of next week's European champions Cup opener against Sale Sharks, Foley gave a debut to Argentinian hooker Eusebio Guinazu, who impressed in the 28 minute appearance.
And 20 minutes from time after a penalty won at the scrum, Hanrahan added three more points to Munster’s advantage. It proved to be the insurance score.
Scorers - Munster: A Smith try, JJ Hanrahan 4 pens. Scarlets: R Priestland pen, drop.
Munster: J Murphy; G van den Heever, A Smith, I Dineen, S Zebo; JJ Hanrahan, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, K O'Byrne, BJ Botha; D Foley, B Holland; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, CJ Stander. Replacements: E Guinazu for O'Byrne (52), J Cronin for Kilcoyne (52), R Copeland for O'Mahony (65), I Keatley for Hanrahan (65), D Williams for Murray (72), S Archer for Botha (75), D O'Callaghan for Foley (75).
Scarlets: L Williams; H Robinson, G Owen, S Williams, K Phillips; R Priestland, A Davies; P John, K Myhill, R Jones; J Ball, J Snyman; A Shingler, J Barclay, R Pitman. Replacements: M Tagicakibau for Owen (22), E Phillips for Myhill (49), R Evans for John (49), S Lee for R Jones (49), G Earle for Snyman (54), J Davies for Barclay (67), R Williams for A Davies (69), S Shingler for Priestland (73).
Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR).
Attendance: 13,851
