{"id":25350,"date":"2022-03-05T15:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-05T20:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25350"},"modified":"2022-03-06T09:01:36","modified_gmt":"2022-03-06T14:01:36","slug":"munster-run-in-ten-tries-against-the-dragons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25350","title":{"rendered":"Munster Run In Ten Tries Against The Dragons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Munster\u2019s Mike Haley and Gavin Coombes celebrate with try scorer Chris Farrell (INPHO\/James Crombie)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munster were in complete control as they handed the Dragons a ten-try 64-3 defeat in the United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park. The home side sauntered into a 28-3 half-time lead, with young fly-half Jack Crowley converting tries from Craig Casey (two), captain Jack O\u2019Donoghue and Chris Cloete. Sam Davies\u2019 16th-minute penalty proved to be the Welsh region\u2019s only score on a deflating night for Dean Ryan\u2019s men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With their bonus point secured by the 36th minute, Munster cruised home with further scores from Simon Zebo, Chris Farrell, Shane Daly, Cloete, replacement John Hodnett and O\u2019Donoghue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ollie Griffiths got over the ball to break up Munster\u2019s early momentum, but scrum-half Casey duly crossed in the ninth minute, breaking to the blindside of a maul and shrugging off Davies\u2019 attempted tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dragons made good ground in response, Davies knocking over a close-range penalty before their own indiscipline brought Munster back into try-scoring range. Casey, who came off the Ireland bench last Sunday in the Guinness Six Nations win over Italy, squeezed in under Joe Maksymiw to complete his brace in the 22nd minute, and it got worse for the Dragons straight from the restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Donoghue evaded Aneurin Owen\u2019s tap tackle to finish off a terrific team score from deep, with Crowley converting to make it 21-3. As the interval approached, Crowley\u2019s inviting pass had John Ryan charging up into the visitors\u2019 22. Farrell then injected further pace, freeing up flanker Cloete to go over out wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been quite the twelve months in the making of Ireland coach Andy Farrell as a genuine Test team boss in his own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crowley nailed the difficult conversion for good measure, the Dragons\u2019 cause not helped by a miscued lineout and center Owen\u2019s injury-enforced departure. A forward pass denied Mike Haley a try on the resumption, but Zebo had a simple run-in after Casey\u2019s quickly-taken penalty. Crowley missed the conversion and his opposite number Davies fluffed the restart, Haley hoovering it up to step inside Davies and feed Farrell for a muscular finish to the right of the posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crisp offloading from Crowley, Gavin Coombes and Haley sent Daly over, and Casey\u2019s whizzing pass soon handed Cloete his second of the night. Ben Healy converted Munster\u2019s closing efforts from fellow replacement Hodnett, who finished off a slick move off a lineout, and O\u2019Donoghue, who enjoyed another chance to stretch his legs.<\/p>\n

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