Pro 12 round-up:Munster achieved a record twelfth successive win in Celtic rugby after defeating Glasgow Warriors at Firhill in the second round of the RaboDirect Pro12 league with crucial scores either side of half time, accurate goal kicking and distribution from man-of-the-match Ian Keatley and an unyielding defence that coped well with the home side's attempts to cross the whitewash.
Anything other than victory would have been a shock against a Glasgow side that simply lacks the depth in its squad to be competitive. In the event Munster’s experienced core paid their way by playing the kind of rugby that had Glasgow’s youngsters struggling to find an answer.
Leinster recorded their first win with a convincing 31-10 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS. Isa Nacewa kicked two penalties to one from Jason Tovey as Joe Schmidt’s men, who looked the more threatening side in the first half, took a 6-3 lead into the break.
The hosts extended their lead early in the second half courtesy of superb tries from Brendan Macken and Ian Madigan. Tovey then touched down for the visitors, but Fionn Carr raided through for a 77th-minute try and man-of-the-match Nacewa took his kicking haul to 16 points to seal a deserved triumph.
Leinster got off to a sprightly start, Carr and David Kearney running hard at the Dragons’ defence before Nacewa clipped over a sixth-minute penalty.
A classy counter-attack from Carr saw him light up the early stages of the second half. He blasted past Gavin Thomas and tore into the Dragons’ half before passing for Macken to cover the final 25 metres into the left corner.
Another long-range surge then nabbed a second try for Leinster. This time it was a piece of individual brilliance from out-half Madigan as he broke overhalfway, got away from Steffan Jones and grounded the ball despite the bestefforts of Mike Poole. Nacewa converted the second of the tries and added a penalty approaching the hour mark to leave the Dragons 21-3 adrift.
Darren Edwards’ side showed resilience with a slick counter down the left which saw Pat Leach break away and pass for the supporting Tovey to go in behind the posts. Tovey added the extras but Leinster kept on course with another precise penalty from Nacewa.
The yellow card for Dragons captain Tom Willis, who was offside and interfering at a ruck, looked to be the final noteworthy act until Carr’s deserved score. Ryan held up the ball well having gathered a kick and replacement Leo Auva’a romped into open territory before finding Carr, who evaded a final challenge on a strong run to the line.
