Player Ratings: Munster vs Scarlets

Munster

1. Dave Kilcoyne – 6/10

Did well at scrum time, piling the pressure on his opposite number. Failed to make much of an impression with ball in hand and at times struggled with the pace of the Scarlets attack.

2. Niall Scannell – 5/10

Post an impressive lineout success rate of 100%. Got through a solid amount of work at the breakdown and made some crushing tackles in defence. Unfortunately, he was unable to get enough opportunities with ball in hand and failed to impact the attacking aspect of the game.

3.John Ryan – 5/10

Put the Scarlets front row under pressure at scrum time. Gave away a few careless penalties and sloppily knocked the ball on at a crucial moment of the game.

4. Donnacha Ryan – 6/10

In his last game in a Munster jersey, the second row man put in a solid performance. He consistently provided an excellent lineout option, as well as putting in a big shift defensively and at the breakdown. He was unable to impact the game in an attacking sense but overall, his performance was respectable.

5. Billy Holland – 5/10

Good option at the lineout. Put in a solid defensive shift and worked hard at the breakdown. Also failed to make any real impression on the game in an attacking sense and was substituted early in the second half.

6. Peter O’Mahony – 6/10

As usual, put in a very big shift at the breakdown. Showed excellent body position to secure some vital turnovers for his side and did his best in attack. However, struggled to get many opportunities to run with ball in hand and gave away some careless penalties at the breakdown.

7. Tommy O’Donnell – 5/10

Put in a big shift and showed a really impressive work rate at the breakdown. However, failed to make an attacking impact on the game and as result was withdrawn early into the second half.

8. CJ Stander – 5/10

Uncharacteristically disappointing performance from the usually exemplary number 8. Struggled to get opportunities to run at the Scarlets with ball in hand and as a result struggled to stamp any authority on the game.

9. Conor Murray – 5/10

A difficult performance for Irish the scrum-half. His box kicking was inch perfect, his passing accurate and he marshalled his backline well. However, he was guilty of some careless knock ons and some questionable decision making at times.

10. Tyler Bleyendaal – 6/10

One of the standout performers in an overall poor Munster backline. Kicked very well out of hand and from the tee. Looked dangerous with ball in hand and had his efforts rewarded with a try on the stroke of half time.

11. Keith Earls – 6/10

Struggled defensively at times when put under pressure by the Scarlets wide men. However, put in an impressive shift in attack and worked hard throughout. One of the better performers in this Munster side and his efforts were rewarded with a try late on.

12. Rory Scannell – 5/10

Unfortunately forced off very early through injury but had struggled to cope with the Scarlets attack until then.

13. Francis Saili – 5/10

Another man making his last appearance in a Munster shirt, he would have hoped for a much better performance. Struggled massively in a defensive sense as time and time again he shot out of the line and was beaten by simple skip passes. Showed flashes of quality in attack but they were all too rare.

14. Andrew Conway – 6/10

Very quiet afternoon for the winger. Was anonymous for large portions of the game with lengthy spells being played on the opposite wing. However, he showed some moments of quality when running with ball in hand and was rewarded with a consolation try late in the game.

 

15. Simon Zebo – 5/10

Mixed performance from the Irish full-back. Played a couple of beautifully weighted cross-field kicks but some of his territorial kicking was very inaccurate. Struggled at times defensively to cope with the blistering pace of the Scarlets back three.

Honourable mentions from the bench:

18. Stephen Archer – 6/10

Made a positive impact when called upon from the bench early in the second half. Got through an impressive amount of work and carried well when presented with the opportunity.

19. Jean Deysel – 6/10

Managed to positively impact the game when introduced in the early stages of the second half. Although he wasn’t able to swing the result Munster’s way, he can be proud of his impressive work rate and solid defensive shift.

Scarlets

1. Rob Evans – 7/10

Dealt with John Ryan well at the scrum, preventing the prop from getting the shove on as he did against many other teams in the Pro 12 this year.

 

2. Ryan Elias – 8/10

Deputised for the injured Ken Owens well with some strong carries early on. Made some massive hits on Munster’s big ball carriers which prevented them from shifting the momentum of the game.

 

3. Samson Lee – 6/10

Wasn’t on the field long enough to make a huge impact as he was substituted early on due to injury. The scrum wasn’t under much pressure in the opening period though so he didn’t fare out too badly.

 

4. Lewis Rawlins – 6/10

The lineout worked well for the Scarlets so the second row can’t be faulted in that regard. However, he was outshone by his teammates in the pack as he didn’t get much time on the ball himself.

 

5. Tadhg Beirne – 9/10

Scored an amazing try where it looked as though no one on the field could stop him on his way to the line. Won a magnificent turnover for his side in the second half when it looked like Munster were coming bac into the game. Was active throughout the game, making tackle after tackle in what used to be his home ground with Leinster.

 

6. Aaron Shingler – 9/10

The back row wouldn’t have looked amiss in the backline today as he threw the ball around expertly in wet conditions. Made a huge amount of tackles as well, often holding the attacker up in contact, winning scrums for his side. His work at the lineout was fantastic as he allowed Scarlets go off the top and give their backs some space out wide. Deservedly won the MOTM award.

 

7. James Davies – 9/10

The fact that the flanker is a sevens Olympian comes in very handy in the loose. His handling as a forward never ceases to amaze as he puts people away down the outside by intelligently drawing the outside man. The energy on the field was a thing to behold as he put in a huge shift to make a high amount of tackles and put Munster under pressure at the breakdown. Deserved his try at the end, which put a cherry on top of the victory.

 

8. John Barclay – 8/10

Carried well in the loose and even put a deft kick in behind the Munster defence on one occasion. He won a couple of turnovers on the floor as well which prevented Munster from getting back in the game.

 

9. Gareth Davies – 7/10

Gave away a silly penalty early on for throwing the ball away. Came back into the game, going over for the third try after a break from Scott Williams. Had high work rate and was there for the offload any time his teammates made a break.

 

10. Rhys Patchell – 8/10

Distributed well overall, taking the ball hard to the line before flinging it wide with some lovely skip passes. He showed great vision to kick in behind the Munster defence throughout the game. His cross-field kick to Liam Williams for the first try was immaculate. Ran the game superbly and it was already won when he was called to the touchline.

 

11. Steff Evans – 8/10

Scarlets will be delighted that his red card last weekend was overturned as Munster couldn’t deal with him all day down his wing. He took his try brilliantly, linking up well with Jonathan Davies. He was unlucky not to go in again in the first half when Murray got back to close off the space in front of him. Did well to prevent a certain Munster try in the second half after he got back to help McNicholl, who was under pressure from a cross-kick.

 

12. Scott Williams – 8/10

Showed great handling skills, getting the ball away quickly when put under pressure by the Munster defence. He seemed unfazed by Munster’s famous defence, carrying hard to the line every time he was called upon. Set up Gareth Davies try with a linebreak which he made look effortless. Stood up in defence, making a number of big hits.

 

13. Jonathan Davies – 8/10

Showed a great turn of pace and rugby intelligence to set up Steff Evans’ try in the first half. Made another superb break in the second half after Murray shot out of the line.

 

14. Liam Williams – 8/10

Took his try expertly, getting on the end of a cross-field kick from Patchell to score in the corner. Beat the first defender every time he ran with the ball and defended superbly, in spite of his missed tackle on Conway at the death.

 

15. Johnny McNicholl – 8/10

Was extremely dangerous on the counter attack and Blyendaal had to limit his opportunities to do so by grubber kicking towards the touchline time and time again.

 

Honourable mentions from the bench:

 

18. Werner Kruger – (29') 7/10

Stable at the scrum against one of Munster’s better performers in Kilcoyne, and that’s all that can be asked of the tighthead.

22. Hadleigh Parkes - (55') 6/10

Continued the good work of Rhys Patchell when called upon from the bench. Put in some very accurate territorial kicks which pinned Munster back deep inside their own half. Was caught out late on for Earls' intercept try but overall he out in a solid performance.

23. DTH Van der Merwe - (58') 7/10

Made an excellent impact when called upon to replace the impressive Steff Evans. Caused the Munster defenders a host of problems with his pace and power and was rewarded late on with a try at the 70-minute mark.