Dragons 16-20 Munster
MUNSTER HAVE BOUNCED back from last week’s defeat to Cardiff Blues, with a deserved win over Dragons at Rodney Parade, with tries from Jean Kleyn and Cian Bohane sealing the win for Rassie Erasmus’ men.
The away side were forced to change their starting line-up before the game began, with Colm O’Shea coming in for Keith Earls, who picked up a hamstring injury, as Munster struggled to convert their dominance into points.
There were also injury concerns for the hosts as Angus O’Brien came in for Nick MacLeod after he rolled his ankle in the warm-up.
It was Kleyn that got the game’s first try after both sides exchanged penalties, before Amos responded with a touchdown of his own for the home side, after he capitalised on a poor O’Shea pass.
O’Brien and Bleyendaal knocked over one more penalty each, before O’Brien gave Dragons an undeserved lead in the second-half.
However, the game turned after a kind bounce of the ball for Munster.
Winger Darren Sweetnam looked to be set for his team’s second try before the ball fell from his grip, but fortunately for the southern province it bounced kindly for Bohane.
John Ryan was Munster’s standout performer, but Erasmus will be keen for his new side to convert territory into more points, in what should have been a more convincing victory.
Munster remain in second place in the league after a second consecutive victory in Wales, while a losing bonus point for Dragons see them just behind, in seventh.
Dragons scorers:Tries: Amos
Conversions: O’Brien x1
Penalties: O’Brien x3
Munster scorers:
Tries: Kleyn, Bohane
Conversions: Bleyendaal x2
Penalties: Bleyendaal x2
DRAGONS: Carl Meyer, Pat Howard, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon (Adam Warren 77′), Hallam Amos, Angus O’Brien, Sarel Pretorius (Charlie Davies 68′), Sam Hobbs (Thomas Davies 52′), Rhys Buckley, Brok Harris (Craig Mitchell 52′), Nick Crosswell (Cory Hill 55′), Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans (captain), Ollie Griffiths (Nic Cudd 58′), Ed Jackson (James Thomas 71′).
Replacements not used: Darran Harris.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway (Ian Keatley 55′), Darren Sweetnam, Colm O’Shea (Cian Bohane 41′), Dan Goggin, Ronan O’Mahony, Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray, James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne 53′), Niall Scannell (Duncan Casey 68′), John Ryan, Jean Kleyn (Dave O’Callaghan 53′), Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland (captain), Jack O’Donoghue (Conor Oliver 73′), CJ Stander.
Replacements not used: Brian Scott, Duncan Williams.
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