Europe’s finest came heartbreakingly close to toppling the world’s most feared rugby side in an epic encounter on Tuesday evening.Â
Munster, the two-time Heineken Cup winners, came heartbreakingly close to toppling the world’s most feared rugby side, were it not for a late match-winning try for the visiting national side.
With just five minutes remaining on the clock the home side were three points ahead, thanks to the try from Bary Murphy and the goal-kicking of outside half Paul Warwick.
But when Joe Rokocoko found his way over the whitewash after 76 minutes for the decisive score, the full house knew there was to be no repeat of 1978.
Twenty years ago, Munster stunned the global game with a defeat of the All Blacks, and those in the crowd who witnessed that occasion would have been willing the modern-day side to repeat the task.
Munster, minus 10 of their Ireland big guns, showed their intentions right from the off as their four New Zealanders produced their own Haka to throw down the gauntlet to the All Blacks.
That got the crowd fired up and the atmosphere remained electric for the entire contest.
The Heineken Cup winners showed their strength in depth, dominating for large periods of the match and running in 16-10 at the half time interval.
But the Kiwi’s turned the screw in the second period and it was a war of attrition they won, outscoring the home side 8-0 in the second period to close out the match 18-16.Â
Wales will play New Zealand on Saturday, in the third match of the Invesco Perpetual Series, at 14:30 at the Millennium Stadium.
