Resource-rich Munster show little sympathy

Connacht 19 Munster 44: Contrasting teams. Contrasting fortunes. Munster, with 11 internationals in their starting line-up, overwhelmed Connacht to join Edinburgh at the top of the table. The western province, with just one former Ireland player, remain bottom with four straight losses from five matches.

While Munster's Declan Kidney could enjoy the luxury of introducing the 34-year-old former league international Gary Connolly to fill a gap left by injury, Connacht had earlier in the week considered pulling Eric Elwood out of retirement to plug theirs. In the event both David Slemen and Paul Warwick stepped in - Slemen lasting only 20 minutes before injury.

Connacht's Michael Bradley says they always knew it would be more difficult this year.

"I think it's a reflection of how the season ended last year. We are up against sides with internationals, and if we make mistakes, we are going to be punished.

"It was much like the Edinburgh game - if you turn over ball, they will score. Every mistake is a seven-pointer."

That said, Connacht never looked like scoring despite a solid enough scrum, hallmark defence, and improving lineout. Munster held all the aces, particularly up front, while Connolly was the leading light in an otherwise youthful back line, grabbing two of Munster's five-try haul.

"Delighted for him," said Kidney. "It was hard enough to come into the side at short notice, but to adapt is a great reflection on his professional attitude."

Connolly scored the opening try after 13 minutes. But it was two tries immediately after the restart that clinched this result and by the 70th minute Munster had bagged the bonus point.

Connacht had held their own in the first half, opting to kick for position with the wind and employ Slemen and Warwick to take penalties. They kicked two apiece in that opening but each time handed back the initiative, mainly through the concession of penalties at the breakdown.

Flanker Matt Lacey was eventually binned, and the clinical Ronan O'Gara added three first-half penalties to put Munster into the driving seat.

Soon after the restart Munster made their mounting pressure pay with two tries in four minutes. The first was a typical Munster lineout and drive, Frankie Sheahan claiming the reward.

The second came when Connacht failed to deal with their restart, which seemed to fall short. In the confusion Anthony Foley scooped up the ball before finding Horan, who raced to the line untouched, making it 12-27.

O'Gara slotted another penalty before Connolly was the beneficiary of an overlap on 70 minutes.

Conor McPhillips showed his pace with a well-taken try that gave Connacht some heart before prop Federico Pucciarello got his first for Munster.

Connacht may not have beaten Munster for 19 years, but on Saturday history played little part. The power and pace of today's Munster were sufficient.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2 mins: Slemen pen 3-0; 13: Connolly try, O'Gara con 3-7; 16: Slemen pen 6-7; 28: Warwick pen 9-7; 33: O'Gara pen 9-10; 38: Warwick pen 12-10; 40: O'Gara pen 12-13 (half-time: 12-13); 42: Sheahan try, O'Gara con 12-20; 44: Horan try, O'Gara con 12-27; 62: O'Gara pen 12-30; 69: Connolly try, O'Gara con 12-37; 73: McPhillips try, Warwick con 19-37; 82: Pucciarello try, O'Gara con 19-44.

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, D Yapp, J Downey, K Matthews; D Slemen, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop; A Gallagher, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: P Warwick for Slemen (27 mins); B O'Connor for Lacey (47 mins); D McFarland for Hogan (56 mins); C Short for Farley, C Venter for Fogarty (both 63 mins); C O'Loughlin for Keane (67 mins). Sinbinned: Lacey (40 mins).

MUNSTER: B Murphy; J Kelly, G Connolly, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheehan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; S Keogh, D Leamy, A Foley. Replacements: T O'Leary for Dowling (47 mins); J Flannery for Sheahan, T Hogan for O'Callaghan (both 67 mins); P Pucciarello for Hayes (71 mins); J O'Connor for Leamy, R Henderson for Connolly, P Burke for O'Gara (all 74 mins). Sinbinned: Foley (56 mins).

Referee: D Keane (IRFU).