Rugby: Celtic League Borders 25 Munster 41: Munster achieved their twin objective at Netherdale last night of maintaining pressure on Celtic League leaders Leinster with a bonus-point victory and, more importantly, showing their winning capabilities ahead of the European Cup final next month.
This was a consummate performance with many of Munster's less-used players showing up well, among them outhalf Jeremy Manning. But top of the bill was man-of-the-match Mick O'Driscoll, who repeatedly thwarted Borders' lineout.
Another in the spotlight was Christian Cullen, playing his first full game in 13 months.
Munster's dynamic start included a searing break by the fit-again Mike Mullins, which put them into an attacking position that brought rewards when centre Trevor Halstead cut free before laying the ball off to the powerful Denis Fogarty for the opening try, Manning adding the conversion.
Calum MacRae reduced the lead with a penalty. But from the restart Reivers were penalised for obstruction, and Manning restored the seven-point lead.
The kicking duel continued, MacRae goaling after Munster were ruled offside, but the reply was a trademark score from Munster, a driven lineout and the touchdown by Fogarty, again converted by Manning.
Reivers' backline attack showed a lack of precision as an inside pass fell to Anthony Horgan. The winger made the running before offloading to Cullen for the New Zealand legend to score his side's third try, Manning adding the extras.
Borders finally showed their scoring ability with a try from Stuart Moffat, the fullback outstripping a flat Munster defence for a fine try, converted by MacRae.
Munster quickly struck back with a penalty by Manning, the outhalf's fifth success from five pots at the uprights to give the visitors a healthy lead at half-time, 27-13.
Munster brought on outhalf Ronan O'Gara to replace Mullins and immediately the Ireland international imposed himself with clever running and accurate passing.
Borders withstood the pressure before showing their own threat with a 30-metre break by number eight Kelly Brown that required a timely ankle-tap from Halstead. Borders were sensing a fightback but their inability to score from three successive lineouts in the corner looked profligate.
Their pressure told, however, when prop Federico Pucciariello used hands in the ruck and was sinbinned.
Munster tried to move the ball but the pass to Ian Dowling went to ground and then into the hands of Scotland wing Simon Danielli, who ran in a second try for the Scots.
Borders' slim hopes were immediately crushed when O'Driscoll gathered the restart and rampaged forward, setting up a series of drives that ended with David Wallace crashing over and O'Gara converting.
Borders scarcely had time to gather breath when winger Dowling ran in Munster's fifth try, converted from the touchline by O'Gara. But it was the Scots, though heavily beaten, who had the final say with a chip-and-chase try from James King and the conversion by MacRae.
BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; S Danielli, B MacDougall, C MacRae, N Walker; G Townsend, B McKerchar; T McGee, S Scott, B Douglas; S MacLeod, O Palepoi; J Dalziel, A Miller, K Brown. Replacements: J King for MacDougall (22 mins); P Thomson for McGee (40 mins); S Setiti for Miller (67 mins).
MUNSTER: C Cullen; A Horgan, M Mullins, T Halstead, I Dowling; J Manning, M Prendergast; F Roche, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; K Stephen, D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: J Hayes for Roche (4 mins); R O'Gara for Mullins (40 mins); (J O'Sullivan for Wallace, T Hogan for O'Callaghan (both 63 mins); P Devlin for Halstead (66 mins); J Flanerry for Fogarty (72 mins); F Murphy for Manning (78 mins).
Referee: T Hayes (Wales).
