Cardiff Blues 25 Munster 22: PAUL O'CONNELL'S try may not have been enough to save Munster but his return is sure to provide Ireland with a major boost ahead of Saturday's Triple Crown clash against Wales.
The Ireland lock came through his first 80 minutes for Munster following a long-running back complaint and even weighed in with the try that should have proved the winner against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.
While Munster allowed the Welsh to claw their way to a last-gasp win with the final move of the game, Ireland will be hoping O'Connell will ensure the same does not happen at Croke Park this Saturday.
"Everyone is looking forward to next week and, hopefully, I will be involved," O'Connell said.
"The team has been playing well and the two secondrows, Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll, have been outstanding. Confidence is coming back.
"Playing at Croke Park is a big plus for Ireland, It is hugely intimidating place to play for visiting teams. However, Wales are playing well.
"Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland seem to have established a lot of confidence but I think we are getting back to our best. We finished well against Scotland in our last game and got some tries against a strong side.
"We were very disciplined and held them off. There was a good defensive attitude and we capitalised on that later."
The Lion was thoroughly impressive as Munster captain at the Arms Park and led by example. Imperious in defence with two telling tackles as the tide turned, for the first time, in Cardiff's favour, O'Connell showed he had lost none of his power as he barged over on 58 minutes to give Munster what appeared to be a decisive 22-11 lead.
"It was great to be back with the rest of the lads," O'Connell added. "I thought I did okay but I was glad to get my first 80 minutes for Munster under my belt after such a long time. My performance was nothing spectacular, but I think it was all right."
In front of a buoyant 11,000 crowd, such is the optimism in Welsh rugby right now, Shaun Payne set Munster on their way inside a minute after he raced onto Paul Warwick's neat kick after his forwards wrestled back possession from the kick-off.
Cardiff hooker Rhys Thomas responded and Brian Carney did well to snuff out a two-on-one overlap to preserve Munster's 10-8 lead at the break. Scores from the giant Tony Buckley and O'Connell looked to have put Munster in the driving seat.
Cardiff coach Dai Young admitted he thought the chance to win had evaporated when replacement flanker Ben White was penalised, rather than awarded a try, and Munster had the chance to clear their lines.
Perhaps Young's opposite number Declan Kidney thought the same having brought off the experienced heads of Anthony Foley and Peter Stringer five minutes from time.
But Warwick, who had kicked expertly given the wind and rain during the game, scuffed his penalty kick to touch and allowed Cardiff one last chance for the winner, which they duly took.
Jamie Roberts had earlier dragged the Blues back into contention with his 70th-minute try before crashing through to send his fellow wing Tal Selley cruising over for a dramatic winner, six minutes into injury -time. That telling contribution could well be enough to earn Roberts, a 21-year-old medical student, a second cap for Wales this weekend, as well as keep Cardiff's title aspirations alive.
Munster's losing bonus point was enough to keep them in fourth place, level with Edinburgh, though still 11 points off league leaders Leinster.
O'Connell said: "We are bitterly disappointed with the result. We thought we were in with a chance of getting a bonus point with a fourth try but we ended up with the wrong sort of bonus point.
"We thought we had the win in the bag but we let it slip with a few defensive errors. It's a huge blow to our league hopes but we still have seven games left and will keep battling right to the last."
At least O'Connell looks set to have an early chance to exact some sort of revenge against the Welsh on Saturday.
CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; T Selley, J Robinson, G Thomas, J Roberts; R Jones, R Rees; J Yapp, R Thomas, G Powell; D Jones, P Tito; M Molitika, X Rush (capt), R Sowden-Taylor. Replacements: G Williams for Thomas, N Macleod for R Jones, T Filise for Powell (all 60 mins); J Spice for Rees, S Morgan for Tito (both 65 mins)
Scorers: Tries - J Robinson, J Roberts, T Selley; cons - B Blair (2); pens - B Blair (2).
MUNSTER: S Payne; B Carney, K Lewis, L Mafi, D Howlett; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; D Ryan, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, A Foley, N Ronan. Replacement: D Fogarty for Sheahan (67 mins).
Scorers: Tries - S Payne, T Buckley, P O'Connell; cons- P Warwick (2); pens - P Warwick.
Referee: P Allan (Scotland).
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