Soaked to their skins but Connacht get a timely lift

Munster 9

By JOHN FALLON at the Sportsground

CIAN Prendergast said that they needed to dictate proceedings at a rain-lashed Sportsground on Monday to end their five-match losing run.

But the win came at a price and Irish coach Andy Farrell will anxiously await news on the extent of an injury picked up by winger Mack Hansen which forced him off in the closing stages.

Hansen required oxygen as he was helped off after suffering an arm/shoulder injury in the closing stages of a fierce battle between these neighbours on a woeful afternoon for rugby.

Connacht, with Prendergast leading the way, got on top when it mattered most in the second half and inflicted a fourth defeat in their last six meetings against the nearest neighbours but only their ninth league win in 43 clashes.

“We said that if we got the work-rate and physically right we could dictate our own destiny,” said Prendergast.

“Conditions were difficult and played a part but it was a night where we had to dig in, work hard and dictate our own destiny.”

Munster led 6-3 at the end of an opening half that took over 57 minutes to play as both teams, understandably, struggled to perform in the heavy rain and swirling wind.

Munster, having been forced to make a couple of pre-match changes when hooker Eoghan Clarke and lock Fineen Wycherley were lost to an already lengthy casualty list, then saw tighthead Oli Jager and No.8 Jack O’Donoghue stretchered off during the opening half.

Connacht also lost Cathal Forde early in the game, with Jack Carty coming on at out-half and JJ Hanrahan moving back.