Williams injury blow overshadows Cardiff win

By MATT LLOYD

Cardiff …………….20pts

Tries: Llewellyn 3, Dacey 37, Summerhill 77

Conversions: Evans 37

Penalties: Evans 69

Munster …………13pts

Tries: O’Sullivan 63 Conversions: Crowley 63

Penalties: Healy 17, 31

Liam Williams was taken to hospital with a “significant” collar bone injury to put a dampener on this opening day victory for Cardiff.

Dai Young’s rebuilding project at the Arms Park got off to a winning start but it came at a heavy price.

Williams, 31, one of his four big summer signings, was injured just 20 minutes into his debut after falling heavily under a challenge.

The Wales and British Lions star left the field with his arm in a sling and was taken to hospital after the game to learn the full extent of the injury.

However Young admitted he now does not expect to have Williams, right, available for at least a month with Wales coach Wayne Pivac also sweating on the result ahead of the autumn series.

He said: “It doesn’t look good. The physios have had a look and it looks quite a significant injury.

“I have no idea over the timescale or how bad it is. But he doesn’t come off easily. He was in a lot of pain. The doctor thinks it was definitely a collarbone. How bad it is we’ll see in the next 24 hours.”

The loss of Williams did not stop Cardiff ending a six-game losing streak against Munster, though they left it late.

Max Llewellyn gave their season a dream start when he wriggled out of a tackle to scramble over inside three minutes.

Munster recovered and twice took the lead thought failed to hold onto either for more than six minutes.

Ben Healy kicked them 6- 5 ahead only for Kristian Dacey to finish a set-piece straight off the training ground, combining with Llewellyn to race clear just before half-time.

Munster hit back through No8 Jack O’Sullivan before Uilisi Halaholo handed Aled Summerhill an easy winner three minutes from time.

Young said: “We matched Munster’s physicality but we needed to be a bit more clinical when we had opportunities, which could have made the game a little bit easier but it’s never easy against Munster.

“It certainly wasn’t the perfect performance but a good win to start.”

However it meant a losing start to the Graham Rowntree era at Munster, albeit with a bonus point.

He said: “I loved the fight that we showed but we have to look at how we hold onto the ball and our urgency at the breakdown which wasn’t good enough, particularly in the second half.”