Rugby: Next leg Munster’s acid test

Munster 51 Treviso 0

Benetton Treviso came to Thomond Park on Saturday, in the words of their Kiwi coach Craig Green, "not to be beaten" but after a 51-0, eight-try mauling, the Italians have gained a new respect for Munster.

But nobody is getting carried away. Alan Gaffney was understandably pleased and accepted it was the best they could do on such a miserable evening.

However, he also declared that the back-to-back games against Gloucester in January will be the acid test an obvious conclusion considering the way Gloucester demolished Bourgoin at Kingsholm on Saturday.

However, Munster can now sit back and enjoy Christmas satisfied with their results so far. They picked up the bonus point after 52 minutes and went on to take four more tries against a Treviso side that battled for the best part of an hour before entirely losing their shape in the closing stages.

The rain and wind swirled around a packed Thomond Park but that didn't faze the Munstermen.

They were patient over the opening 20 minutes, but it was obvious the floodgates would open.

That's precisely what happened.

"We were never going out there to play Ba-Bas rugby", said coach Gaffney. "It took us 20 minutes to score but the boys worked hard. The line-out was again fantastic. Paul (O'Connell), Donnacha (O'Callaghan) and the rest were outstanding and we mustn't forget Frankie's (Sheahan) throwing.

"The maul and scrum were good and the backs began to hit the ball at pace. We coughed up a few balls and weren't as clinical as we would have liked in the first 20 minutes. Nor was the work at the breakdown satisfactory and Strings was given some sloppy possession."

The coach feels they have improved through the recent games against Cardiff and Bourgoin, but is far from happy the Irish squad players will be unavailable for the next two weeks, initially because of this week's warm weather session in Lanzarote followed by the Christmas break.

"I'm not saying it will bring us back to square one, but it would have been fantastic to go on and play Gloucester next week", he maintained.

"A two- or three-week break is not what we want. I was surprised at Gloucester scoring six tries, even at Kingsholm It's now set up nicely for Gloucester and Munster. Home and away, they should be great contests. They owe us one and we owe them one.

"I don't think Treviso were that bad, we just dominated them in a lot of areas. The scrum was first-class, just as it was the week before."

The first Munster try was, by a distance, the best moment of the game.

A truly glorious pass by Ronan O'Gara and the pace injected into the move by a number of players, mainly David Wallace, Paul O'Connell, John Kelly and Mike Mullins before Jeremy Staunton got the touch down, was the culmination of everything they have worked on at training.

"Everybody hit the ball at pace and I thought it was the best try Munster have scored since I hit these shores and probably a bit before," said Gaffney.

Gaffney doesn't deny that, in the continued absence of the injured Christian Cullen, he has a problem at full-back where Jeremy Staunton's early promise hasn't materialised.

But he did have the boost of scoring that brilliant first try.

Shaun Payne, the left wing replacement for Anthony Horgan, has really caught the eye over the last few weeks.

"Shaun loves to run, he glides over the ground and is much quicker than you think", Gaffney said.

Staunton's try was followed by one each from O'Callaghan and O'Connell, a couple each for Anthony Foley and Jason Holland and another for Shaun Payne. Ronan O'Gara added four conversions and a penalty.

MUNSTER: J. Staunton; J. Kelly, M. Mullins, R. Henderson, S. Payne; R. O'Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, D. O'Callaghan, P. O'Connell, J. Williams, D. Wallace, A. Foley.

Replacements, G. McIlwham for Hayes 52; J. Holland for Mullins 60; M. Lawler for Staunton 67; D. Pusey for O'Connell 70; S. Keogh for Williams 75; E. Reddan for Stringer 79; J. Blaney for Sheahan 79.

BENETTON TREVISO: S. Mason; G. Canale, T. Visentin, M. Dallan, S. Legg; F. Smith, O. Troncon; P. Ribbens, A. Tejeda, S. Constanzo, C. Checcinato, S. Dellape, J. Erasmus, S. Parisse, S. Palmer.

Replacements, P. Travagli for Troncon half time; D. Eigner for Smith 57 mins; S. Garazzo for Perisse 57; M. Preziano for Mason 67; P. Di Santo for Constanzo 66; E. Pavanello for Checcinato 66.

Referee: R. Dickson (Scotland).