Munster - 64 Viadana - 0:POOL TWO: In an ideal world Munster would have eclipsed Gloucester's 12-try rout of Viadana but they came close in bagging nine in a performance that pleased coach Alan Gaffney. The "contest" was over after 10 minutes, the only unknown the margin of victory. John O'Sullivan at Musgrave Park.
Munster will rue a couple of passes that didn't go to hand, a few wrong options with the Italians' line in sight but the urgency in the try chase was always going to produce the odd mistake. There was much to admire in Munster's display not least the work of the pack in which every player excelled, particularly Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan and Paul O'Connell.
Behind the scrum Jason Holland ran powerfully, Mike Mullins cut a swathe through the defence time and again. It sets up next week's trip to Viadana and the prospect of another points fest.
Mullins conceded: "We made a few mistakes but have to be pleased with nine tries. We now have to go and complete the job next week."
Once Munster had settled into a rhythm, it was simply a matter of time before the points landslide began. The only criticism of their patterns in the first 20 minutes was the overuse of Jason Holland in trying to muscle his way past the Viadana midfield defence. As a gambit it was telegraphed and meant the pack had to work harder at times to rescue an isolated ball carrier. This was only a minor concern as Munster excelled, especially in the lineout where Donncha O'Callaghan and O'Connell snaffled ball at will.
Viadana's cause wasn't helped by the sin binning of second row Fabio Gumiero for a few ill-chosen words.
On a night when the outcome was a foregone conclusion, the crowd were only occasionally moved to raucous support and one such occasion centred on a now trademark piece of defending by scrumhalf Peter Stringer. Viadana flanker and captain Matt Phillips intercepted a pass from Ronan O'Gara and raced clear 35 metres from the Munster line. Stringer scampered in pursuit and timed his diving hand-trip to perfection.
The tries came at regular enough intervals to alleviate any frustration when things threatened to become a little slow on the scoreboard.
Foley was first across the Viadana line, driven over by his team-mates from a close-in lineout. It was no more than his display merited. He created the second try for Anthony Horgan, surging through a gap and releasing the equally effective Alan Quinlan who put Horgan clear with an inside flick.
O'Gara converted the first, added a penalty and then kicked a magnificent touchline conversion when hooker Frankie Sheahan grabbed the third try of the evening, another ode to the pack, mauling the Cork Con man over from another short range lineout.
O'Connell was next to profit from the straight running of Holland, breaking a couple of tackles and loping to the posts from 20 metres. O'Gara posted the conversion as he would do on two more occasions in the first 17 minutes of the second half; Foley grabbed a second try and referee Hugh Watkins signalled a penalty try when Viadana collapsed a maul inches from their own line.
O'Gara profited from some excellent running by the outstanding Quinlan, taking the flanker's intelligent inside pass to coast under the posts. The last 10 minutes, the crowd's exhortations spurred Munster to a final brace of tries, bringing their total to nine, Holland's score, thoroughly merited for an industrious night's work, and Mike Prendergast rounding off proceedings with an unopposed canter after the pack had once again created the space.
It was a productive night.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: Foley try, O'Gara conversion 7-0; 10 mins: O'Gara penalty, 10-0; 12 mins: Horgan try, 15-0; 23 mins: Sheahan try, O'Gara conversion, 22-0; O'Connell try, O'Gara conversion, 29-0. Half-time: 29-0. 43 mins: Foley try, O'Gara conversion 36-0; 57 mins: penalty try, O'Gara conversion, 43-0; O'Gara try; 62 mins: O'Gara conversion, 50-0; 75 mins: Holland try, O'Gara conversion, 57-0; 82 mins: Prendergast try, O'Gara conversion, 64-0.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; M Lawlor, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; J Williams (capt), A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: S Kerr for Horan 60 mins; M O'Driscoll for O'Callaghan 60 mins; E Halvey for Foley 63 mins; C McMahon for Lawlor 72 mins; J Fogarty for Sheahan 74 mins; M Prendergast for Horgan 78 mins; K Keane for Staunton 80 mins.
VIADANA: C Steyn; M Dolcetto, G Frasca, H Crane, R Pedrazzi; R Pickering, P Roux; M Savi, E De Bellis, L Bocchini; R Denhardt, F Gumiero; M Phillips (capt), D Farani, A Persico. Replacements: V Jimenez for de Bellis 52 mins; M Avigni for Phllips 55 mins; P Spina for Persico 70 mins.
Referee: H Watkins (Wales).
Yellow card: F Gumiero (Viadana) 22-32 mins.
