The Scarlets hadn’t beaten Munster in their last 14 outings in all tournaments and needed a win to keep alive their hopes of making the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs for the first time. The visitors, reigning champions in the competition, were also in need of a boost after their exit from the Heineken Cup at the quarter-final stages at the hands of Ulster.
They arrived needing at least a draw to guarantee safe passage into the semi-finals, but a little bit more to try to keep the pressure on the Ospreys in the battle for the second home tie. With six successive wins in Llanelli, they came with an air of confidence.
But it was the Scarlets who drew first blood when they turned deep defence into devastating attack. Having robbed Munster hooker Mike Sherry of the ball 10 metres ot from their posts, Liam Williams chipped out of the 22, Adam Warren and George North carried on to the visitors’ 22 and then quick hands allowed Sean Lamont to cross for a try which Rhys Priestland converted.
In the blink of an eye the hoe side had created something out of nothing, yet they seemed to close their eyes when Munster came calling with two attacks in the home 22. Donnacha Ryan bulldozed his way through Priestland to grab a try back and then wing Simon Zebo popped up on the inside of Ian Keatley to take a pass and run through four would-be tacklers to score a second that was confirmed by the TMO.
Outside half Keatley converted both and added a penalty to give Munster a 10 point lead at the end of the first quarter. Priestland landed a penalty of his own to reduce the deficit, but another one went the wrong side of the upright to leave the champions with a useful interval lead.
The Scarlets pressed hard at the start of the second half and showed greater urgency, but they couldn’t find a way through the strong Munster defence. Then they coughed up another penalty and saw Keatley extend the lead after 54 minutes.
The home side needed a breakthrough and the old campaigner Stephen Jones provided the craft and precision needed to create an opening with a perfectly timed pass to back row man Aaron Shingler who galloped 25 metres to the line through two defenders.
Priestland added the simple conversion and the temperature rose. The Scarlets still had it all to do, but a 45 metre penalty shot from Priestland levelled the scores with less than 10 minutes to go. They threw the kitchen sink at Munster in the closing stages, but the visitors’ defensive line held firm and the game ended in a 20-20 draw.
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