One of rugby's more intriguing laws is the one that indicates that, although time is up, the game is not over until the ball goes out of play. This extends a match's possibilities and its drama. Munster looked to have this game sewn up as they spent the final seven minutes encamped ten metres from their line, but with the ball safely in their grasp. No one plays “keep ball” better than Munster. They did not move forward as Cardiff Blues tackled and tackled but could not get their hands near the ball.

Finally, the home team gave away a penalty that might have ended the match, but Paul Warwick's kick failed to find touch and the Blues went for one last surge.

Back and forth the ball went, deep beyond regulation extra time, until Jamie Roberts spotted a gap and found Tal Selley on his shoulder to score under the posts and win the match against Munster's suffocating, but admirable, discipline and efficiency.

It was a fine game, with both teams in purposeful mood and seeking to attack by different methods and to their strengths. This could well be an indicator of things to come at Croke Park on Saturday. Ireland, like Munster, are mature and tight at forward, whereas Wales - despite becoming stronger in the scrum - look the more fragile, although, given the chance, they can respond swiftly. This is not the whole story, of course.

In the second half, Munster, with a strong wind against them, took charge. Indeed, at one stage, when they went into a commanding 22-11 lead, they had complete authority. They then sought to batten down the hatches and keep the ball to themselves. It was impressively done, if wholly frustrating for the opposition, so it is to the Blues' credit that they did not succumb and kept at it. Ireland can do as much, but will Wales be able to keep calm in the maelstrom of Croke Park?

With Paul O'Connell capable of running the lineout to his wishes, Wales may stumble as the Blues looked to be doing on Saturday, when they were forced to rely on the breaking runs of Roberts because Munster had tied up the game at forward. However, the Irish provincial side have not quite the threatening power of their national team with Brian O'Driscoll in the midfield. Even so, this fluid game gave us a flavour of what may come in Dublin.

Scorers: Cardiff Blues: Tries: Rhys Thomas (23min), Roberts (72), Selley (80). Conversions: Blair (2). Penalty goals: Blair 2 (8, 51). Munster: Tries: Payne (1), Buckley (47), O'Connell (59). Conversions: Warwick (2). Penalty goal: Warwick (40).

Scoring Sequence: 0-7, 3-7, 8-7, 8-10 (half-time), 8-15, 11-15, 11-22, 18-22, 25-22.

Cardiff Blues: B Blair; T Selley, J Robinson, GThomas, J Roberts; R Jones (rep: N Macleod, 60), R Rees (rep: J Spice, 66); J Yapp, T Rhys Thomas (rep: G Williams, 60), G Powell (rep: T Filise, 60), DJones, P Tito (rep: S Morgan, 66), M Molitika (rep: B White time73), R Sowden-Taylor, X Rush.

Munster: S Payne; B Carney, K Lewis, L Mafi, DHowlett; P Warwick, P Stringer (rep: T O'Leary, 76); F Pucciarello, F Sheahan (rep: D Fogerty, 68), TBuckley, D Ryan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, N Ronan (rep: J O'Sullivan, 72), A Foley (rep: JCoughlan, 73).

Referee: P Allan.

Attendance: 11,269.