Quick Keith Earls hat-trick puts Munster on the way

A Keith Earls hat-trick inside seven minutes during a six-try opening half helped Munster wrap up maximum points against a weak Edinburgh outfit in Cork last night.

It was a night of many positives for head coach Johann van Graan, who had enjoyed the luxury of a 34-7 half-time lead, with Andrew Conway contributing two tries from the opposite wing to Earls in what was an eight-try to two hammering. The Munster boss both successfully reintegrated his Ireland internationals and saw both Conor Murray and Chris Farrell come through their first games of the season after long-term injuries ahead of the next fortnight’s back-to-back Champions Cup games against French champions Castres.