Blues run out of fizz in Cork

Captain's Innings: Paul O'Connell crossed the whitewash during Munster's fightback

Cardiff Blues were unable to extended their fine record against Munster on Saturday, falling to a 28-20 defeat in a keenly contested Magners League tie at Musgrave Park in Cork.

The visitors held a 17-7 lead just after the break but the European champions secured the result with three quick-fire tries in the second half.

Robin Sowden-Taylor's second half sin-binning proved costly for the Blues as Munster turned their numerical advantage into 14 points and wrestled their way to the top of the table.

Too many breakdown offences saw Sowden-Taylor banished to the sidelines in the 51st minute and Munster took full advantage to put Paul O'Connell and Niall Ronan over for converted tries.

Having been 17-7 in arrears, the European champions crowned their comeback with a bonus point-clinching try from South African recruit Justin Melck.

Richard Mustoe and Maama Molitika had touched down for the Blues either side of half-time.

And the visitors deserved better luck when Ben Blair missed a sitter of a penalty which would have gleaned them a losing bonus point.

Tony McGahan's squad rotation policy saw a refreshed O'Connell, John Hayes, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer return to the Munster line-up.

Cardiff also performed mini surgery to the side that pipped Ulster last week - the most notable changes seeing Ceri Sweeney and Jason Spice selected at half-back.

Munster got off to the best possible start. Ian Dowling made serious yardage near the Cardiff 22 and a neat grubber kick from Rua Tipoki was gobbled up by Ronan for a second-minute try.

O'Gara's successful conversion was cancelled out though by a thumping penalty from inside his own half from Blair as Cardiff began to settle.

It was a lively opening quarter, with territory evenly split. Cardiff shaded it, helped by some forward grunt and Sweeney's clever direction.

The Welsh side's ball retention kept Munster on the back foot and an excellent 34th-minute try from winger Richard Mustoe was just desserts.

Sweeney invited Mustoe into the attacking line on the 22 and he was able to step past both Stringer and Barry Murphy before touching down his first try for the region.

10-7 ahead at half-time, Cardiff kept their foot on the gas and a huge up-and-under from Sweeney helped create Molitika's score.

The dropping ball bounced off Denis Hurley's shoulder and into the grateful arms of Roberts who carried on before unleashing Molitika for the line.

Blair added the conversion and Munster were suddenly staring at their fifth successive Magners League defeat to Cardiff.

But little by little, McGahan's men got themselves back in touch. They were aided by some superb counter-attacking from Lifeimi Mafi and Doug Howlett.

After Sowden-Taylor incurred Peter Allan's wrath, Munster captain O'Connell stretched over off a five-metre ruck for a galvanising seven-pointer.

Munster went 21-17 ahead on the hour mark when Howlett and Mafi made mincemeat of Cardiff's left wing defence and Ronan was up in support to complete his brace.

Melck then got in on the try-scoring act as Bradley Davies lost control of a line-out ball, close to the Cardiff line, and the Munster number 8 had an easy task to score.

A burst from the back from Blair won Cardiff a last-minute chance to take something from the game but the New Zealander's kick was sliced, leaving Munster to celebrate their rise to the top of the table.

The scorers:

For Munster:

Tries: Ronan 2, O'Connell, Melck

Cons: O'Gara 4

For Cardiff Blues:

Tries: Mustoe, Molitika

Cons: Blair 2

Pens: Blair 2

Yellow card(s): Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues) - killing the ball, 51.

The teams:

Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Rua Tipoki, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Justin Melck, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Paul O'Connell (c), 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Tony Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Frederico Pucciariello, 18 John O'Sullivan, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Mike Prendergast, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Barry Murphy.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Gareth Thomas, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Robin Sowden Taylor, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Gary Powell, 17 T Rhys Thomas, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Mark Lewis, 20 Darren Allinson, 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Tom Shanklin.

Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)

Touch judges: Alan Rogan (Ireland), Richard Kerr (Ireland)

Assessor: John Sheehan (Ireland)

Television match official: Olan Trevor (Ireland)