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Munster are making a habit of late away victories

Winning is a habit, and it's one Munster can't shake at the moment. Despite a blitzing in the first...
TodayFM
TodayFM

8:30 PM - 18 Feb 2017



Munster are making a habit of...

Sport

Munster are making a habit of late away victories

TodayFM
TodayFM

8:30 PM - 18 Feb 2017



Winning is a habit, and it's one Munster can't shake at the moment.

Despite a blitzing in the first 25 minutes against the Ospreys this evening at the Liberty Stadium, Rassie Erasmus's side came from 17-3 down to claim a dramatic 25-23 victory, sending them back to the top of the Pro 12 table.

It looked like they'd spurned their chance for victory 10 minutes from time, after a series of scrums five metres out eventually ended with a turnover.

However Dave Kilcoyne powered over the line with just two minutes left to level the sides up, and Tyler Bleyendaal was nerveless to land the winning conversion.

It maintained a remarkable run of form for the province, who have now won 14 of their last 15 games since the tragic passing of head coach Anthony Foley.

Plenty of those wins were emphatic, with bonus point wins against Leinster, Glasgow, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers and an earlier meeting with the Ospreys in Cork.

But the real mark of this season has been their ability to grind out victories that they arguably had no right to win. Five spring to mind, all of which came away from home.

Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow had been a real bogey ground in recent years for Munster, but in both the Pro 12 and in Europe, they came from behind in the final 10 minutes to pick up invaluable wins.

Against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium they trailed 14-0 in the first half, before Rory Scannell's drop goal three minutes from time ensured a 15-14 victory.

Two weeks ago against Edinburgh they produced their most laboured performance of the season, but still found a way to finish the right side of a 10-9 scoreline.

And again tonight they looked dead and buried when the Ospreys were breaking the gainline at will in the first half. Even after steadying the ship, the Welsh side looked to have weathered the storm in the final few minutes.

But after so many backs-to-the-wall performances late on this season, Munster simply knew they had it in them. They just needed one chance.

It didn't matter that their opposition had won 10 games in a row, they kept the heads cool and the pants dry. Dave Kilcoyne found that extra inch of space to attack. He found that extra pump of the legs to get him over the line. And Tyler Bleyendaal found that extra bit of bottle to kick the winning points.

It sent them back to the top of the Pro 12 table, and with two of their remaining three away games against Italian opposition, it leaves them well placed to secure a home semi final, even with seven games left to play.

 

 

 



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