Thomond Park, even without a crowd, bid farewell to three of its favourite sons tonight as CJ Stander, James Cronin and Tommy O'Donnell played their last game at the ground as Munster went back to the top of the Rainbow Cup north table and put themselves in prime position for a place in the final.
Surprisingly, it's possible that the fond farewell for three legends of the province have been overshadowed by the events on the pitch. Johann van Graan's men overcame the Cardiff Blues with a hard fought, topsy turvy 31-27 win, in what was a must-win game.
A late Keynan Knox try gave Munster the lead, but the game swung with a Munster captain's challenge from CJ Stander that ended the game.
With the clock in the red, Cardiff were awarded a penalty. A thrilling game was going to get the end it deserved until Stander used the controversial experimental rule brought in for the Rainbow Cup competition.
It turned out Cardiff's Lloyd Williams had kicked the ball into his own ruck, resulting in a Munster free-kick, and the game was over. A damp squib ending that would have left a Thomond Park crowd confused if there was one in attendance.
It's a massive win for Munster, who go back to the top of the table and must beat Zebre away in two weeks to reach the final of the competition against a South African opponent.
While there's nothing to say the province wouldn't have held on and won the game anyway, the way it ended left a bad taste in the mouth for many of those watching, and it's fair to say the "Captain's Challenge" isn't the most popular rule even introduced in rugby.
Munster win after a successful captain's challenge on a technicality, ruining a spectacular end-game but saving their season
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) May 28, 2021
For such a fantastic game to have such a damp squib ending was a real shame.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) May 28, 2021
IT’S ALL OVER
MUNSTER 31 CARDIFF 27
IT’S A BONUS POINT WIN ON A CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE AND IT’S JUST ANOTHER WIN FOR THE BAD GUYS #MUNvCBL pic.twitter.com/SGWYToieWf— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) May 28, 2021
The Captain's Challenge is an absolute curse
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) May 28, 2021
Imagine how much you have to hate rugby union to not only come up with the concept of a captain’s challenge, but to actually implement it in professional rugby and everything?
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) May 28, 2021
Well, who'd have thought the captain's challenge would turn out to be a bad idea that ruins games as a spectacle...?
— Ben James (@benjames1796) May 28, 2021
The captain's challenge trial law is shit and don’t believe anyone who says that it isn’t.
— Jamie Phillips (@JNPhillips4) May 28, 2021
SEE ALSO: The Last Munster Team To Win Silverware: Where Are They Now?
