Munster show their mettle

Munster have stolen a march at the top of Pool One of the Heineken Cup but the two-time winners had to fight their way to a 24-23 victory against Perpignan.

The home side had most of the early possession at Thomond Park but it was the visitors who went ahead with tries from Yoann Vivalda and Nicolas Durand.

The French champions were also conceding penalties though, giving Ronan O'Gara the chance both to keep his side in touch and also give his own form a much-needed boost.

His boot allowed the home side to inch clear in the second half, although their lead always appeared surmountable.

Indeed it looked as though they were heading for defeat when replacement winger Philip Burger sprinted through for the try of the match - and arguably of this season's competition so far - with 10 minutes remaining.

However, not for the first time in a highly competitive match, the French champions could not hold on to their lead as a late penalty from man-of-the-match O'Gara - who scored all his side's points - sealed the vital win.

Munster made a strong start and could have scored in the third minute after full-back Jérôme Porical failed to deal with opposite number Paul Warwick's kick and run.

Porical made amends by tidying up in the in-goal area but a penalty nevertheless resulted, with O'Gara putting the first points on the board.

Error

But Perpignan were ahead just three minutes later and it came as a result of an error committed at a Munster line-out by Paul O'Connell.

The lock flapped at the ball, with his fellow forwards making things worse by leaving a huge gap in their line - Vivalda seizing control and running unchecked to the line.

Porical missed the extras and his side were soon penalised - O'Gara putting Munster back in front with a difficult penalty taken from the right flank.

Yet the French side were soon ahead once more with their second try. Once again it came as a result of a botched Muster line-out, with hooker Guilhem Guirado breaking clear before passing to Durand.

The scrum-half still had work to do on the left flank but he left Doug Howlett for dead with a step inside before touching down - Porical converting before missing a penalty in the 23rd minute.

O'Gara showed him how to do it three minutes later and after missing the chance to level, he did just that with a penalty four minutes before half time.

The first half ended with Munster surging forward but it was Perpignan who appeared most likely to take the lead once more at the start of the second - their running rugby albeit unable to bring its reward.

O'Gara then made it four from five, the penalty being awarded for a knock-on by Farid Sid - although video replays showed the high ball he was attempting to deal with in fact hit him in the face.

But, having gained territory after Warwick struggled to deal with Gavin Hume's crossfield kick, Perpignan soon drew level with a Porical penalty.

O'Gara kicked his side ahead once more with a drop goal in the 56th minute and the hour-mark saw the home side putting together phases as they probed elusively for a way through.

The home number 10 then missed a long-range penalty attempt but Munster edged six points clear after O'Gara converted a more simple-looking effort in the 63rd minute.

Lightning

Replacement David Mele pegged them back two minutes later and Thomond Park fell silent with 10 minutes remaining after Burger picked up Warwick's kick inside his own 22.

The lightning-fast South African proceeded to sprint clear down the left flank, no Munster player able to deal with his arcing run which ended emphatically in the left-hand corner.

Porical could not convert but O'Gara could in the 75th minute - a crucial effort in front of the posts after Bertrand Guiry made a high tackle on Lifeimi Mafi.

Munster fans thought they were home and dry seconds later when Denis Hurley broke clear on the left flank to touch down; however, he was adjudged to have knocked on at the preceding ruck.

O'Gara's attempts to shore up the result by kicking three successive penalties to the corner in the closing moments came to nought - Tomas O'Leary instead kicking to touch on the stroke of full time.