Munster brought back down to earth

Celtic League Dragons 23 Munster 17Munster's Heineken European Cup preparations and Celtic League aspirations were seriously undermined after they crashed to defeat at Newport Gwent Dragons last night.

Coach Declan Kidney had named a virtually full-strength team with one eye on challenging league leaders Ulster and building momentum towards their semi-final showdown with Leinster later this month.

But their inability to get to grips with Newport's exciting back line will have given him plenty of food for thought as he plans to face Brian O'Driscoll and co.

Trevor Halstead gave Munster the perfect start with a try after just 61 seconds but the men in red were brought crashing back down to earth with a bump after last weekend's win over Perpignan by three tries from the Dragons.

Defeat was made all the worse by injury to Jeremy Manning who left the field on a stretcher after being knocked unconscious midway through the first half. That concussion could rule out the Kiwi for the European semi-final.

Manning had taken over from Ronan O'Gara as one of only three changes by Kidney who was returning to Rodney Parade, where he spent the briefest of tenures last summer before taking the job with Leinster.

O'Gara, Denis Leamy and Marcus Horan were all left at home to recover from their respective injuries, opening opportunities for Federico Pucciariello, Mick O'Driscoll and Manning to stake their claim.

Manning succeeded in doing that for the best part of half an hour as he marshalled the Munster attack having been instrumental in the opening try after 61 seconds. Munster regained possession with Newport knocking on from the kick-off. Manning twice brought Halstead into the attack, the second time saw the centre sail through untouched after Paul O'Connell's strong burst.

Manning converted to cap a dream start for Munster and added a penalty after Newport had hit back with a workmanlike try through captain Jason Forster, but it was his last contribution.

The young Kiwi required extensive treatment on the field and the loss clearly rattled Munster who conceded two more tries before the break after failing to get to grips with Nathan Brew's angle of running.

The once-capped Wales wing smashed through Manning's replacement Paul Burke from close range to score under the posts off Ceri Sweeney's inside pass before dashing past Paul O'Connell from further out to send Gareth Wyatt over in the corner a minute before half-time.

Munster drew level through Pucciariello after John Kelly's strong burst but indiscipline allowed Newport to regain control. Craig Warlow slotted over two more penalties to open a six-point lead that could have been far more as Munster were caged inside their own half.

Tomás O'Leary showed an impressive turn of pace to haul down Wyatt who looked to be free after picking off Burke's over-ambitious pass and all in all, Munster could have few complaints over the loss.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: A Thomas; G Wyatt, H Luscombe (J Bryant, 59), C Sweeney, N Brew; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, L Charteris, J Ringer, M Owen, J Forster (capt).

MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, T O'Leary, T Halstead, I Dowling (M Mullins, 62); J Manning (P Burke, 27), P Stringer; F Pucciariello (F Roche, 80), J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, M O'Driscoll, A Foley (capt), D Wallace.

Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).