Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Wootton pegs it in for brace
Zebre 19 Munster 36
ALEX WOOTTON gave new Munster boss Johann van Graan plenty to ponder as he raced in for two tries against Treviso yesterday.
The winger could now be in line for a Champions Cup debut against Leicester Tigers next month.
Coaches Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones took the reins in Italy, with van Graan watching on as the Reds carved out a bonus point win.
But the South African will be unhappy with Munster’s poor discipline in the opening half which saw a 17-0 lead whittled down after a double sin-binning.
First Robin Copeland and then Sam Arnold paid the price as the referee lost his patience with Munster’s persistent fouling.
Michael Bradley’s side made the Reds pay as centre Giulio Bisegni darted over and captain Jacopo Sarto added another. Scrum-half Guglilemo Palazzani converted both to leave just three between the sides at the interval.
But Munster resumed control once restored to 15 and sealed a bonus point win by the 57th minute when Wootton crossed for the second of his tries.
Zebre gave themselves a chance of a couple of bonus points when winger Giovanbattista Venditti scored 13 minutes from time.
But that was as near as they got and a good day for Munster was sealed when Calvin Nash scored his first try for the province at the death, with JJ Hanrahan converting to make it five kicks from seven.