Reds boss delight at 7 try win
RASSIE ERASMUS was happy to see his side rack up 50 points away to Zebre, but he has called for everyone to up their game against Toulouse next Saturday. A seven-try victory over the weak Italians went according to plan for the Munster boss with no new injury concerns. But with the flamboyant French side to come in the Champions Cup knock-out stages on Saturday, he knows improvements are needed. “I think we will have to make a step up in every area for next week. Toulouse is definitely a world class team with world class players, players who can do fantastic things at any moment,” said Erasmus. “To single out one specific area I’d be stupid – in all areas we have to improve.” Both Ronan O’mahony and James Conin did their hopes of inclusion for Saturday no harm at all with two tries each, while Niall Scannell, Tommy O’donnell and Rory Scannell also crossed for Munster. Exactly what blend of Irish internationals and incumbents will be included next weekend remains to be seen, but a bonus-point win has confidence high. Erasmus said: “It was a difficult to mix and match players. Some guys have played intense Six Nations matches and some were just on the bench. “Other guys were off for two weeks and didn’t play rugby and some guy were coming back from injury. “That’s part of the reason it was a little bit stop start. But over all I think we got through the game without too many injuries and now into a really big game.” Three tries in the firsthalf meant Munster led 24-7 at the interval, but when Rory Scannell ran in the fourth in the 48th minute Erasmus could withdraw players like Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams and Jaco Taute. Cronin also came on and barged over twice in nine minutes, but by then the damage was long done.