Sorry departure as Munster slaughter Pat Lam’s Connacht

Munster 50 Connacht 17: It is clear who will be the happier of the two provincial bosses as their thoughts turn towards crucial games in the next fortnight.

Yet Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus struggled as much as Connacht head coach Pat Lam to find positives from this surprisingly passionless Guinness Pro12 derby.

Clearly, there were plus points for Munster to take out of a seven-try demolition of their neighbours with the majority of the province’s big guns either rested or kept in reserve. Nor did you need reminding just how meaningful was the second-half return of scrum-half Conor Murray from an eight-week injury absence as Erasmus bids for a successful play-off campaign in the weeks ahead.