Sale Sharks 26 Munster 27

By Whaley Shark
October 19 2014

So this is what all the fuss has been about, then- the big boys of European rugby visiting a team from a small town in Cheshire (once upon a time) in their stadium by the Ship Canal. Given the Group of Death in which we have been drawn, the pre-match chat has been more about not being embarrassed than how we’ll sail into the knockout stages in a flurry of try bonus points.

It was clear at the start that we weren’t just making up the numbers, as Danny slotted a penalty after just seven minutes to open the scoring. Munster showed how dangerous they could be just three minutes later though, running a kick back powerfully to set up in our 22, and eventually battered their way over. They continued to press, with their strong-running No 8, CJ Stander, making the first of several penetrating runs, but a penalty allowed us to relieve the pressure before strong running from Jonny Leota gave us a penalty on the Munster 22 and Danny narrowed the gap to 6-7, then, a couple of minutes later, another penalty took us back into the lead, 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.

We then hit our purple patch, with two tries in ten minutes. First, a quick penalty, followed by a neat grubber from Mike Haley, set up a good attacking position, Munster conceded a penalty and we went for the corner. After a bit of battering, a long pass from Danny allowed Magnus Lund to outflank the Munster defence and score in the corner. More Munster indiscipline gave us another lineout on their 22. We kept our heads, recycled the ball through the phases and finally a gap opened up for Jonny Leota. Sale 23, Munster 7, after half an hour probably wasn’t in most people’s scripts and, indeed, we continued to press until half time, but with no further score.

We came within inches of extending our lead just after half time, when Jonny Leota came up just short after a break down the right, but then Munster made a couple of early changes in the front row and started to come back into the game. After a prolonged spell of pressure in our 22, they took a quick penalty and put their wing, Andrew Conway, over. We started to look a bit ragged, losing our own lineout to set up another spell of Munster pressure and, although the TMO denied them a try at the first attempt, they eventually made sure. With both tries converted, it was 23-21 and the usual Sale nailbiter……

An exchange of penalties kept our noses ahead as the game went into the last ten minutes and, as the clock ran down, Munster played patiently for wither a penalty or a drop goal attempt. Some ferocious Sale defence seemed to have pushed them back out of range but, well beyond the 80 minutes, they calmly regrouped, rolled a maul 15 metres upfield and gave their 10, Ian Keatley, the moments he needed to pinch the game from us.

So, what to say? That was one of the best Sale performances I have seen for a LONG time. I wouldn’t have asked any more of the players, and I really feel for them this morning. I think the difference was on the benches, where we didn't quite have the depth to match Munster in the closing stages but, compared with previous weeks, the scrum, where Dimes had made changes, seemed to go well. A nearly full AJB stadium with lots of things going on made for a lively ‘matchday experience’ so a big well done for getting that organised- we have had a glimpse of what Sale at the AJB could develop into, given time. And as for travel, I even had my own personal entrance to Barton airfield and had my quickest ever journey home.