Munster win sets up big clash with Gloucester

Munster 51 Benetton Treviso 0

Munster built further on the foundation of their 18-17 win last weekend in Bourgoin, thrashing Benetton Treviso in Pool Five this evening 51-0 at a sodden Thomond Park.

The province ran in eight tries, netting a well-earned bonus point, and included a first-half effort from man-of-the-match Paul O’Connell and two for substitute centre Jason Holland and number eight Anthony Foley.

Fly-half Ronan O’Gara, so vital in kicking six penaltie six days ago, kicked his side into an early lead with a 28-metre penalty in the 16th minute.

Munster’s first try should have been garnered by centre Rob Henderson but his fumble over the line in slippery conditions was just the first taste of Italian territory for Alan Gaffney’s men.

Full-back Jeremy Staunton sprinted over after a 22-metre ruck for their first, following a David Wallace incision.

After 29 minutes bustling second row Donncha O’Callaghan touch downed for his first Heineken Cup try in 16 appearances to put Munster 13-0 up before a pirouetting Paul O’Connell angled over for his first of the match with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Munster built quickly on their 18-0 half-time lead with Foley scoring 10 minutes after the restart and former Natal Sharks winger Shaun Payne getting in the left corner in the 55th minute.

A break by Frankie Sheahan off the back of a Munster ruck on the Italians’ 22m line had given flanker Wallace the chance to stretch his legs and he sent the South African over with a flipped pass. O’Gara sent over his first conversion from a tight angle for a 25-0 lead.

At this stage Treviso were putting one foot on the plane home and substitute Holland, on for Henderson, scored his first with 15 minutes remaining, running straight through the Treviso midfield onto a flat O’Gara pass.

The New Zealander had his second on 73 minutes when Payne off-loaded in good time to see Holland through the Italian cover, missing Alessandro Troncan who was forced off with a suspected broken leg.

The rout was completed with Foley’s solo effort in injury-time with O’Gara’s conversion putting Munster over the half-century.

With scrum-half Peter Stringer coming off to a great round of applause as he celebrates his 26th birthday, Munster will know they will not have too many days like these come the New Year and their back-to-back clashes with Gloucester.