Late try breaks Munster hearts

Munster 16 New Zealand 18:For a while there it appeared that lightning could actually strike twice - in Munster at least. So irrepressible is the Munster machine that even when shorn of its frontline players it can drag every last fighting breath out of the mighty All Blacks and force them to pull a try out at the death to deny another famous victory, 30 years on from the one that capped the province's finest hour.

Forget the 'second string' New Zealanders, there is no such thing and evidently it doesn't exist in Munster either.

Joe Rokocoko is no stranger to the biggest stage and it was his try that sealed the win after the weary defensive line strayed and allowed Stephen Donald to feed Mils Muliaina, who in turn set the islander on his way. Nothing Doug Howlett or scrumhalf Peter Stringer could do was going to prevent the him from snatching a win from Munster's grasp.

The scene was set when Howlett, Mafi, Rua Tipoki and Jeremy Manning produced the rarest of sights in the form of Munster haka. On the pitch Paul Warwick put on a show of his own, kicking his side into the lead by way of two penalties and a sublime drop-goal.

Donald had knocked over a penalty at that stage but Munster still led by six until the outhalf crossed the whitewash in the 23rd minute after centre Isaia Toevea softened up the Munster midfield. Donald converted for a one point lead.

This was no turning point, however, and despite the loss of Denis Leamy the Munster pack was giving as good as it got. The Thomond crowd demanded they strike back.

Their calls were answered in the 36th minute when Munster forced a five-metre scrum and at the second attempt Stringer got good ball, drew the tackle from Hosea Gear and fed Barry Murphy who touched down unchallenged. Warwick was again spot on with the kick and the home side went in at halftime with a 16-10 lead.

The onslaught arrived after the break but all the visitors could muster was a penalty from Donald to close the gap to three.

He missed a chance to level it but the Munster defence kept making the hits, repelling their men, and going on the attack in an amazingly open game. Donald missed another and Manning, on for Tipoki and in at outhalf as Warwick moved to the centre, was off target with a drop-goal attempt.

The All Blacks were running out of time but the clock couldn't move fast enough for the men in red or those crammed into the new stadium. But just when it looked like there might be another night to tell the grand kids about, daylight appeared in the Munster defence and a giant winger burst through, smashing Munster dreams on his way.