Do Munster finally have power and heft to compete with Europe’s big boys?

A bonus-point win against brand new opposition ticked pretty much all the boxes for Munster on Saturday night

25 September 2021; Simon Zebo of Munster after scoring his side's sixth try, as team-mates Thomas Ahern, left, and Dan Goggin celebrate, during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Cell C Sharks at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

As first nights go, Munster supporters could not have wished for much more. Johann van Graan will — that is his job and the head coach knows there will be tougher challenges in front for his squad in both this new competition and the wider ambition of finally bringing silverware back to the province.

Yet as an opening chapter in the 2021-22 campaign, back home in front of supporters for the first time since February 2020, a bonus-point win against brand new opposition and the manner in which it was achieved pretty much ticked all the boxes for Munster on Saturday night, as they got their United Rugby Championship crusade up and running in impressive style.