Connacht 24 - 31 MunsterCertainly the best performance of the year so far, Johann van Graan had declared with tongue firmly in-cheek as Munster got 2019 up-and-running in strong shape at the Sportsground. And the benefits of leaving Galway on Saturday night with a bonus-point victory, coming on the back of a home win over Leinster, should mark a pivotal moment in the campaign and perhaps van Graan’s tenure after 13 months in his first job as a head coach. Talking pointSo Munster start 2019 on top of PRO14 Conference A and with back-to-back victories over Leinster and Connacht. Equally pleasing for Johann van Graan will be the performance his team put together to gain a valuable away win at a sold-out and raucous Sportsground, perfect timing ahead of a six-day turnaround and a must-win European trip to Gloucester on Friday night. That said, Adamson did disallow another Munster score via TMO Simon McDowell when the officials deemed John Ryan had not properly grounded the ball.

Source: Irish Examiner January 07, 2019 00:00 UTC