European Rugby Champions Cup: Munster leave it late to beat Sale

Munster staged a superb second-half comeback in the European Rugby Champions Cup to stun Sale Sharks 27-26 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Ian Keatley landed a long-range drop goal with the last play as the visitors scored 20 points after the break to come out on top at the end of a gripping Pool 1 clash that was the very definition of a game of two halves.

The Sharks had looked set to make a perfect return to Europe's top table when they deservedly led 23-7 at the break, Danny Cipriani kicking 13 points including converting tries from Magnus Lund and Johnny Leota.

However, Munster - aided by a strong wind at their backs - rallied to dash Sale's hopes of an opening round win, Andrew Conway and Conor Murray both touching down before Keatley kicked them to victory in dramatic fashion.

It was a sucker punch for the Sharks, particularly with home victories appearing to be so vital in a group that also contains the heavyweight duo of Clermont and Saracens.

Munster actually led 7-3 after 10 minutes, prop Dave Kilcoyne going over from close range for a try that left Keatley with a routine kick at the posts, but it was a rare moment of success in a half that saw Sale dominate.

It would have been easy for the Sharks to go under having conceded, particularly as they had made such a bright start that included an early penalty for Cipriani. Instead, though, they responded in fine fashion to open up a sizable lead.

A pair of penalties from Cipriani pushed them in front again, the first of which saw the end of referee Mathieu Raynal’s match as he was injured while making his way back to the halfway line for the re-start.

Perfect mix

Lund snaked out an arm to score Sale's first try after picking up the ball from the base of a ruck, while some lovely handling by Tom Brady, who copped a heavy hit in his efforts to flick the ball on, released the impressive Leota into a gap to finish with the perfect mix of pace and power.

Cipriani converted both, and Sale felt they should have been even further ahead when a potential try-scoring opportunity was ended by Tommy O'Donnell tackling Chris Cusiter before the Sale scrum-half had the ball in his possession. In the end the only action taken was to show the flanker a yellow card.

Munster came through the 10-minute period without O'Donnell unscathed and, with the conditions firmly in their favour after the turnaround, began to pile on the pressure.

A tackle from Sam Tuitupou saved a seemingly certain score for the two-time champions of Europe, though there was no one from the Sharks able to stop winger Conway going over shortly after.

Murray made for a nervy finish when he dived over in the right corner with 15 minutes still to play, Keatley's successful conversion from out wide cutting the gap to two points.

Cipriani briefly gave the Sharks some respite from their defensive efforts with a penalty, only for them to offer the three points straight back. Keatley duly took the opportunity, then held his nerve when set up with the chance to seal the win.

The fly-half watched on as his 40-metre attempt drifted on the strong breeze straight between the posts, completing Munster's great escape and leaving Sale to wonder just where it had slipped from their grasp.