Munster move above Saracens with Thomond Park win

Investec Champions Cup pool 3

Munster (3) 17

Tries: Bleuler, Hodnett Pen: Crowley Cons: Crowley 2

Saracens (6) 12

Pens: Lozowski 3, Daly

Munster came alive in the second half to reignite their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a crucial victory over Saracens at Thomond Park.

Two Alex Lozowski penalties gave three-time champions Saracens a 6-3 lead at half-time as they targeted a third straight win in this season's competition.

However, tries from Dian Bleuler and John Hodnett in the space of five second-half minutes denied the Premiership side and handed Munster a welcome boost after a disappointing defeat by Castres last time out.

Munster's win edges them ahead of Saracens in second on points difference, a point behind Northampton Saints, with one pool round remaining.

The Irish province travel to Northampton - who qualified for the knockout rounds despite a 45-35 loss to Stade Francais on Saturday - on 18 January (15:15 GMT) before Saracens host Castres (15:15) the following day.

These sides have produced some classic encounters through the years, but Saturday's meeting - their first since 2019 - was for the most part a scrappy affair, with a raft of handling errors reflecting the tricky conditions.

The first half delivered just three penalties; two for Lozowski and one from Jack Crowley, who was in the thick of the action during the opening 40 minutes.

Having earlier spilled a high ball and had a kick charged down that brought Saracens close to the Munster try-line, the Ireland fly-half's handling cost him the chance to score a stunning try.

Spotting a gap in the visitors' defence, Crowley chipped the ball through a sea of Saracens bodies and over Liam Williams' head before dropping the ball as he bore down on the line.

In the second half, both sides failed to put more points on the board, with missed kicks from Crowley and Fergus Burke, before Munster pulled clear with a devastating one-two punch.

First, Bleuler dove over from close range on the hour mark after Gavin Coombes drove Munster to the Saracens line, with Crowley's conversion edging the hosts ahead for the first time.

Five minutes later, Thomond Park erupted when Hodnett broke through to finish off a fine Munster move.

Replacement back row Hodnett, who scored two tries in the loss at Castres, survived a last-ditch Williams tap-tackle to finish and open up a 17-9 lead.

Saracens were not done, though. After Lozowski's third penalty brought Saracens to within a score, the visitors pushed for a dramatic late try only for a promising move to break down when Wales international Williams spilled the ball metres short of the line.

The result leaves the battle for second spot - and the home knockout tie that goes with it - finely poised going into the pool round's climax next week.

Munster: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, R Scannell, S Daly; J Crowley, C Murray; D Bleuler, N Scannell, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Beirne (capt); J O'Donoghue, A Kendellen, G Coombes.

Replacements: D Barron, J Ryan, S Archer, T Ahern, J Hodnett, P Patterson, B Burns, B Gleeson.

Saracens: E Daly; L Williams, A Lozowski, N Tompkins, L Cinti; F Burke, I van Zyl; P Brantingham, J George, M Riccioni; M Itoje (capt), H Wilson; JM Gonzalez, B Earl, T Willis.

Replacements: T Dan, E Mawi, A Clarey, M Eke, N Michelow, G Simpson, O Hartley, T Elliott.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)