For an hour of the game, Peel’s side would be competitive with the reigning league champions leading by just seven points.
A first-half double from man of the match Gavin Coombes putting the Irish province into a 14-point lead at the break, before Wales centre Joe Roberts would score a wonderfully crafted solo try to put the home side right back in the game.
The match as a contest then effectively ended with replacement flanker Jack O’Sullivan and lock Thomas Ahern powering over minutes later. Two scores in quick succession after a period of pressure sealing the attacking bonus point for the away side.
Munster were not done, however, as heads would go down and the fans would head for the exit door. Sean O’Brien and Shay McCarthy both crossing on either wing to put gloss on the victory and inflict the latest defeat on the Scarlets who remain in 14th position with just two wins from ten matches.
“It’s not the start [to the second block] we wanted. I’m disappointed with elements of the execution stuff,” said Peel.
“At 61 minutes it was 14-7 and we were in the game. That hour wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but we stayed in the fight.
“Young Harri Thomas was exciting playing as hooker on his debut and some of our scramble was good. It took that lovely try just on the hour mark with Joe [Roberts] going over [for them to raise their game].
“They are obviously a good side though as defending champions. Our execution let us down a couple of times, and they smelt a bit of blood, and they were able to execute.
“It went very quickly from being a seven-point game to a twenty-point game in no time at all.
“I’m disappointed from that perspective but there was a good bit of endeavour. There are some skill areas that we need to tidy up and as the game unfolded there were a few injuries as well with Teddy [Leatherbarrow] going off and us going down to 14.
“I just think their execution in the last 20 was better and that is probably a reflection of a side with a deep and powerful squad.
“We had to stay in the game with them for 80 minutes to compete with them and unfortunately, we dropped away in that last 10-15 minutes.”
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
