365 Sporting Days – New!

I had to bite the bullet and subscribe to Premier Sports for this one as the weather put paid to my plans to drive to friends. That meant an afternoon of Champions Cup rugby to enjoy, including a men against boys match between Exeter Cheifs and Bordeaux. Premier Sports has been a controversial new platform for Premeirship fans, but it will have kept fans of the URC and Top 14 happy.

Saracens were awarded an early penalty and Alex Lozowski slotted the ball over to take the lead with 2 minutes on the clock. Thomond Park is a tough place to visit, I’d been twice and seen Saracens come home empty handed twice, I was hoping for something different this time round.

Elliot Daly knocked on his first attempt at taking the high kick towards him, the ref blew for the scrum and after an initial re-set Munster were awarded a free kick. It was Munster’s turn to knock on this time as they attacked, they made ground initially but a great tackle from Juan Martin Gonzalez had pushed them back.

Saracens were awarded a free kick a couple of scrums later and it took a great kick from Nash from behind the Munster line to save the day for them. Munster were penalised on the floor as Saracens attacked from the line out. Lozowski’s kick was good and taken in complete silence, there really is nothing like the silence at Thomond!

Saracens had to defend with 14 m3en as Gonzalez was on the deck with a probable stinger to his shoulder, they held firm and won the ball back, but lost it as they counter attacked, an attack featuring Gonzalez amazingly!

Saracens had a line out throw in, a successful one and Fergus Burke put a lovely kick in, it was knocked on under some pressure from Ben Earl. Saracens have plenty of kicking options and after a high kick from Lozowski, won by Liam Williams on the wing, Daly kicked straight into touch.

Saracens were playing at 100mph and putting a lot of pressure on Munster, especially with their kicking. One such was returned just short of the halfway line. Another high kick from Burke was dropped, it did look a backwards drop but the ref called knock on.

Lucio Cinti was rolled into touch, dropping the ball, it went into touch via a Saracens boot. Munster definitely knocked the ball on this time as they attacked, to many boo’s from the crowd. As the scrum was set the ref was alerted to some possible foul play, however it was hard to see how it was anything but an accident as Tom Willis basically fell over. Willis was however lucky his leg wasn’t injured. The scrum was re-set. Munster win a penalty as they fought for the ball on the floor as Connor Murray took Burke to the ground.

Murray knocked on as he went to pick the ball up from the base of the ruck post line out, teh ref was perfectly placed. However Munster were the awarded a penalty as it was seen that Jamie George had been involved in the ‘knock on’. Jack Crowley converted the penalty.

Munster made a mess of the kick off, but then held firm in defence as Saracens knocked on. Crowley then showed his footballing skills, once and regathered, twice and regathered, it was lost at the 3rd attempt, then kicked into touch by a following Munster player. It had been knocked on by Crowley which saw a Saracens put in at the scrum. Van Zyl eventually clearing to the halfway line. Willis was penalised as play progressed, having looked like turning the ball over. The penalty kick didn’t make touch and was returned by Daly.

Liam Williams was an inch away from an intercept, but knocked on. Munster won a penalty at the scrum, the ball made touch this time. Saracens gace away a penalty by going too earky in the line out and Saracens received a team warning as Saracens then gave away another penalty. Munster rolled the maul, but Maro Itoje won possession for Saracens after Munster had gone to the ground.

There was a knock on and I have to agree that Jack O’Donoghue was lucky to get away with just a penalty as he took his eyes off the ball and hit Cinti. As half time approached a great van Zyl kick saw the ball turned over to Munster for the scrum as the ref deemed the ball wasn’t coming free on the floor. Murray kicked the ball out from the back of the scrum and the teams went in with the score on Munster 3 Saracens 6. A low scoring half but it was most certainly entertaining!

Munster kicked off and the ball was returned by Daly, the ball was knocked on by Farrell as Munster returned with the ball. Daly kicked up the field after the scrum and the return was kicked straight to touch, but it was Saracens who knocked on as they attacked this time.

It was interesting to see the scrum half without the ball standing back at the scrum, with the new law in place. I felt it helped the team in possession clear the ball. Munster were awarded a free kick on the 2nd re-set of the scrum.

Munster were then penalised for not rolling away as Saracens came back with the ball. Daly lined up the posts from 45 metres out, the kick was a cracker! Somehow sofa score told me it had gone over before I saw it on the TV??

Saracens won possession after holding the maul up after a Munster line out in the Saracens half. Fog was due in the area and the scrum was producing plenty of steam, this particular scrum was re-set and Willis came away from the base of the scrum, he was scragged by Murray and van Zyl made an uncharacteristic error in kicking straight to touch. Saracens were penalised at the line out as they, again, took a man in the air. Crowley kicked the penalty, but kicked the ball to the right of the posts.

An interceotion by Munster saw the ball kicked on, dealt with well by Lozowski, but Munster had some momentum. That momentum was halted to the disgust of the crowd as rthe ref pulled play back for Murray being offside, which he had been, 3 phases before the whistle went.

Saracens had some possession close to the Munster line after a great run by van Zyl, I felt he should have passed to Williams, but the ball went into the forwards. It was funny to see Ben Earl crawling between Brantingham’s legs at one point. Burke went for a failed drop kick and Munster went quickly with the kick out. Lozowski was penalised for a high tackle giving Munster great possession. Gavin Coombes was stopped just short, but Dian Blueler went over for the first try of the game! The conversion was an easy one and Munster were ahead for the first time.

Munster knocked on into touch from the kick off and Saracens chise the line out, with Theo Dan into the game for the first time for a few weeks.

Munster scored a lovely try through Josh Hodnett, not long off the bench, he took a lovely pass from Farrell to run in, the kick was good and Munster had an 8 point lead with 65 minutes played.

Saracens were awarded a penalty, Lozowski added the 3 points. The crowd were unhappy as the TV replayed a carry by Eroni Mawi, he had his elbow raised, it seemed the officials were happy however.

Nick Tompkins knocked the ball on in what would be his last act for the game, it’s rare that he’s subbed. Ollie Hartley came on in his stead. Saracens were awarded a penalty at the scrum. I have to say at times the commentary was less than biased. Tadgh Bierne pulled Dan into touch as Saracens tried to roll their maul. Williams knocked on as Munster kicked up field.

He then took the ball well and Saracens went into attack mode, it was halted as Williams dropped the ball, or rather it was knocked out of his hands. The scrum was well into the Munster 22 with less than 5 minutes remaining. Murray cleared the ball on and as he competed with Williams Nash knocked the ball on. Saracens won a penalty at the scrum, the line out was messy but Saracens retained the ball. But a forward pass stopped their attacking momentum as play progressed.

Munster had a minute to retain the ball and did so through their forwards, until it was knocked on giving Saracens one last chance. Their last attack coming to nothing, the final score was Munster 17 Saracens 12. This was a brilliant game of rugby, how good would it have been had it been a part of the old double header scenario! It was definitely worth my £15.99!