Munster swingin’ in sixties

Munster 64 Viadana 0

This was a breeze, even though there was hardly one at this notoriously cold ground. Munster established control from the early stages and left the Italians reeling with the intensity of their play.

Last week, Viadana coaches thought they identified a way of tackling Munster head on. They had, after all, despite defeats to Gloucester and Perpignan, scored seven tries in a couple of games.

Last night, save for one breakaway, they never looked like achieving that goal. Munster defended brilliantly and attacked with more intensity than they have of late. But then again, this was a high intensity game, bigger than they had to face in a couple of months.

The Celtic League is important but the Heineken Cup is on a different plane and Munster, after three years of nearly getting there, obviously put their minds and their noses to the grindstone.

Centre Mike Mullins, one of the stars of the show, made the point: “Viadana scored tries against both Gloucester and Perpignan. We were delighted to hold them scoreless. If we can do that again next week and score anything like the number of tries we scored tonight, we will be very happy.”

Munster started brilliantly with a try inside three minutes by Anthony Foley who drove through from a lineout to grab the score that Ronan O’Gara converted.

Anthony Horgan nearly got in for a try just afterwards but Munster had to be satisfied with a subsequent penalty from O’Gara.

Inevitably, however, Munster soon turned the screw and Horgan got in for the try after great work by Foley and Anthony Quinlan.

Just afterwards, Frankie Sheahan snatched a try and O’Gara converted to push Munster into a 22-0 lead.

That went out to 29 points shortly afterwards when Paul O’Connell scorched in for a try - the product of great work from Jason Holland and O’Gara. The outhalf converted a great score.

Munster dominated that first half completely and the only real chance Viadana had of scoring was when Matt Phillips intercepted a pass from O’Gara.

Tradition dictates that young Pete Stringer brings off great tackles. He did it in Lansdowne Road last year and robbed Dan Luger. He did the same last night as Phillips was one the way to the line. Viadana’s only first half try scoring opportunity game to naught, and once again, Stringer was the hero.

Munster should have been further ahead at the break. They could not have been unhappy with a 29-0 lead but they were twice held up on the line in the build up to the break. A couple, or even one more try certainly would not have flattered them at the interval.

The next Munster score may have been the try of the game, if for nothing else but the fact that the back row combined to allow Anthony Foley in for a final game-breaker. Sure enough, Holland did all the hard work but it was heartening to see Foley combine with Jim Williams and Alan Quinlan so superbly in the build up. The try and conversion brought Munster into an unassailable 36-0 advantage.

It got worse for the visitors when referee Hugh Watkins awarded a penalty try and O’Gara converted.

O’Gara then grabbed his own try after a super inside pass from Quinlan and the out half converted to make it 50-0.

Jason Holland got into the act and O’Gara again converted to push it out to 57 points.

Substitute Mike Prendergast had the final say after he had come onto the wing for Anthony Horgan and O’Gara converted.

Nine tries to Munster. It could have been more but, one suspects, they will be happy with their performance against an Italian side that, for the first time in this tournament, failed to score even a point.

MUNSTER: J. Staunton (Garryowen), M. Lawlor (Shannon), M. Mullins (Young Munster), J. Holland (Midleton), A. Horgan (Cork Constitution), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution), P. Stringer (Shannon), M. Horan (Shannon), F. Sheahan (Cork Constitution), J. Hayes (Shannon), D. O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution), P. O’Connell (Young Munster), J. Williams (Cork Constitution) captain; A. Foley (Shannon), A. Quinlan (Shannon). Replacements. S. Kerr (Garryowen) for Horan, M. O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution) for O’Callaghan (both 60), E. Halvey (Shannon) for Foley (66). C. McMahon (Shannon) for Lawlor (72), J. Fogarty (Cork Constitution) for Sheahan (73). K. Keane (Garryowen) for Staunton, C. McMahon (Shannon) for Horgan (both 80).

VIADANA: C. Steyn, M. Dolchetto, G. Frasca, H. Crane, R. Pedrazzi, R. Pickering, P. Roux, M. Savi, E. De Bellis, L. Bocchini, R. Denhardt, S. Gumiero, M. Phillips, A. Persico, D. Farani. Replacements. V. Jimanez for De Bellis (53), M. Avigni for Phillips (56),P. Apine for Savi (60).

Referee. H. Watkins (Wales).