THE rain poured down and the wind blew with disconcerting vigour at Musgrave Park last Saturday. The conditions could not have been more forbidding or demanding. However they did not inhibit Munster's desire or effectiveness and the Interprovincial champions opened their challenge to reach the knock out stages of the Heineken European Cup with an emphatic victory by 23 points to five against Milan.

Nothing lifts the spirit or sharpens the competitive edge of Munster teams more than facing opposition from outside the country. Yet again Munster rose to the challenge and the Italians were left floundering in a trough of indecision in the wind and rain.

This win may not go down as among the more celebrated of Munster's achievements against foreign teams because of the limitations of the opposition. But it was the product of acute tactical awareness, astute leadership and forward dominance. Bearing in mind the conditions, forward supremacy was vital and Munster established it early on and never relinquished it.

Playing with the wind in the initial half, Munster built a 17 point lead by the interval. It might have been more. And so severe were the conditions, that the lead by no means looked like a comfortable advantage.

But playing with common sense and commendable concentration, the Munster forwards performed splendidly in the second half. They controlled the line out, through team captain Mick Galwey, who had yet another excellent match, how this man is prospering under the responsibility of leadership - Gabriel Fulcher and Ben Cronin.

Munster mauled and drove with great authority and effect and kept play outside the danger zone. Milan just did not have the depth of will or the resources to deal with Munster's tactics and power.

Milan's plan to counter Munster was to infringe constantly and not always with care. The referee, David Davies, had to be vigilant and on six occasions three in each half had reason to speak to Milan forwards.

Munster used the wind well and outside half Killian Keane and his partner Stephen McIvor responded to the work of the pack. Brian Begley kicked two early penalties and was wide with two more attempts, pardonable in the conditions. Then he scored the try Munster badly needed after 19 minutes.

Munster attacked down the right, Brian Walsh made a break and Galwey was on hand to pass outside to Begley. That left Munster 11-0 in front and as they continued to dominate territorially and win good possession, Begley got the chance to kick two more penalties to stretch the lead to 17 points by the interval.

Begley had scored all 17. Munster might have scored two moretries in that period, but were halted on the Milan line.

"We could have been further in front at half time," said Munster coach Jerry Holland. "But we played especially well in the second half. In fact we would have preferred a dry surface, but we adapted extremely well."

Munster manager Colm Tucker was very pleased to win, but emphasised that the tasks ahead will represent much more stern examinations.

"It was a very good start to our campaign. A win was essential if we are to entertain hopes of qualifying. I was especially pleased by the players attitude to the match and the way they kept their concentration and discipline."

The Munster forward effort in the second half into the wind was especially good. They mauled and rucked well and drove forward off the fringes with great purpose. Anthony Foley made a major contribution and so did Liam Toland.

The back five complemented the solid platform provided by the front row. Munster kept it close into the wind and when Milan got into their territory their stay was invariably brief. Nor did Munster make the mistake Milan had made into the wind by trying for long kicks out of defence. Nor was the Milan kicking in the second half very well directed. Pat Murray, who replaced Dominic Crotty in the second half, dealt with it in his usual efficient manner.

The highly rated Milan half backs, Fabio Gomez and Diego Dominguez, did not see a lot of the ball but they did not use what they got with any perception. Nor did Munster concede penalties to give Dominguez opportunities in the second half.

Keane kicked a fine penalty into the wind in the 52nd minute and Munster keep the opposition well in check and when Milan tried to attack out wide the Munster defence was very solid. It was breached just once when Milan got their only reward, a try by full back Federico Williams who scored wide on the right in the 68th minute. Dominguez missed the difficult conversion. Then with eight minutes remaining Begley kicked a very good penalty from the left for a personal contribution of 20 points.

The Munster team to meet Cardiff on Wednesday will not be finalised until tomorrow evening. The selectors have named the same panel of 22 that did duty against Milan, but may add to it today when they get reports on players who were injured last Saturday.