Scarlets 13
Munster 23
RASSIE ERASMUS HAS got off to the perfect start as the Director of Rugby of Munster with a 10-point victory over the Scarlets in Wales.
James Cronin and Ronan O’Mahony secured Munster’s two tries in the first-half, which proved the difference between the sides, although Gareth Davies responded to give the home side hope.
But victory came at a cost with full-back Simon Zebo being replaced by Ian Keatley, after he suffered an injury following a crushing tackle against Liam Williams.
Despite the home side piling on the pressure, they struggled to break down a stubborn Munster defence, due in part to a man-of the-match display from Tommy O’Donnell, but it was Cronin then O’Mahony that made the Scarlets pay for not capitalising on their possession.
Scarlets were soon rewarded for their early domination however, when Davies produced a superb individual run that started in his own half, to cross the line.
A penalty from Bleyendaal ensured the away side went into the break with a 17-10 lead, but Scarlets never looked like reducing the gap in the second period.
Munster’s New Zealander added another penalty after the interval, with Rhys Patchell matching his efforts, but a further penalty this time from the boot of the substitute Keatley rounded off a clinical start to the season from Munster.
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