United Rugby Championship: Munster seal play-off spot with bonus-point win over Cardiff

Munster booked their spot in the inaugural United Rugby Championship’s play-offs courtesy of a 42-21 bonus-point victory against Cardiff at Musgrave Park on Friday.

The Irish province were full value for their win as they held and edge for long periods and were leading 27-14 at half-time.

In the end, Munster outscored their visitors by five tries to three with Mike Haley and Craig Casey scoring a brace apiece while Thomas Ahern also crossed the whitewash. Munster’s other points came via three conversions and as many penalties from Ben Healy while Joey Carbery also added a two-pointer off the kicking tee.

For Cardiff, Seb Davies, Rey Lee-Lo and Lloyd Williams scored tries which were all converted by Jarrod Evans.

Cardiff silenced the Cork crowd with early tries from Davies and Lee-Lo, but Munster hit back before the interval with Haley’s brace and Ahern’s score on the stroke of half-time.

Leading 27-14 at the break with Healy having landing five kicks, the hosts leaked an opportunist try to Cardiff scrum-half Lloyd Williams in the 55th minute as the visitors looked to get back into the match.

However, the Welsh side could not avoid their fourth straight URC defeat as livewire replacement Casey touched down twice to seal a five-try Munster triumph.

This was a rip-roaring encounter right from the start, Hallam Amos getting on the outside of Conor Murray to send lock Davies over inside two minutes.

Evans converted and also added the extras to Lee-Lo’s effort, which came from another Amos break. Evans tidied up a loose pass and flung the ball wide for the Samoan centre to score.

In between, Munster full-back Haley flew in behind the posts after nice hands from Rory Scannell and Jack O’Donoghue.

Healy converted that score and