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Cardiff Blues warmed up for next Saturday's Heineken Cup trip to Toulon with a stunning victory over Munster thanks to second-half tries from Owen Williams and Robin Copeland at Musgrave Park in Cork.

The sides were level at 3-3 at the break but Williams' try just after the break set up the win, and Copeland's late effort sealed it for the Blues.

Rhys Patchell came agonisingly close to the opening try of the game after nine minutes, but after chasing Lou Reed's punt clear, the impressive fly-half was denied the score by Donnacha Ryan's sliding tackle in the corner.

But from the resultant lineout, Phil Davies' side forced the penalty after Munster interfered at the set piece and Patchell slotted the kick from the right for a 3-0 lead.

International duty had robbed the Blues of both Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts for all of the month of November, so injuries picked up by both in their final autumn international was a double blow.

However, the difference was evident immediately last night as both made their return, and each time Roberts touched the ball he was targeted by the Munster defence.

Both sides had robbed lineouts to their name in the opening exchanges, but an early lift from the Blues' forwards on a defensive lineout awarded Munster an attacking scrum.

And after another powerful drive from Rob Penney's side, Welsh referee Nigel Owens awarded Munster the penalty – their third from that source – which O'Gara dispatched on the day he picked up a record 233rd Munster cap.

After losing Conor Murray early on to a blood injury, the Munster coach would have been horrified to see first choice hooker Mike Sherry limp off midway through the first half, especially with next weekend's crunch Heineken Cup tie away to Edinburgh.

A pair of tries from flanker Tommy O'Donnell ensured Munster would leave Cardiff as the third Irish province to beat Phil Davies' side this season.

With four tries under his belt so far this season, 25-year-old O'Donnell has blossomed under Penney's leadership, but he didn't have it all his own was last night against the powerful Blues back-row of Josh Navidi, Sam Warburton and Copeland.

After going in at half-time at 3-3, Munster would have spoken about a dynamic start to the second period, especially as victory could have brought second place in the standings.

But it was the visitors that got off to the better restart with a splendidly worked try from Williams. The Munster defence had looked solid all night, but after a series of pick and goes Roberts put Williams through the gap as the winger cut a line through the heart of Munster.

Patchell added the extras with ease to stretch Cardiff's lead out to 10-3, but straight from the restart Munster hit back with an O'Gara penalty.

But ten minutes from time Cardiff wrapped up the win when Copeland pounced on Duncan Williams' fumble at the ruck and cantered inn for the try in the corner.

Scorers

Munster:

Pens: R O'Gara (2)

Cardiff Blues:

Tries: O Williams, R Copeland

Cons: R Patchell

Pens: R Patchell

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, K Earls (C Laulala 59), J Downey, D Hurley (I Keatley 60); R O’Gara, C Murray (D Williams 15 blood); D Kilcoyne (W du Preez 74), M Sherry (S Henry 24), S Archer (BJ Botha 62); D Foley (B Holland 58), D Ryan; T O’Donnell (CJ Stander 62), S Dougall, J Coughlan.

Blues: J Tovey (L Halfpenny 53); O Williams, R Smith, J Roberts, H Robinson; R Patchell, L Jones (A Walker 62); S Hobbs (P Tamba 69), R Williams (K Dacey 69), B Bourrust (S Andrews h-t); B Davies, L Reed (J Down 57); J Navidi, S Warburton, R Copeland (L Hamilton 70).

Attendance: 8,874

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)