EARLS DOES THE TRICK Keith’s eight minute treble in Munster romp

KEITH Earls ran in a superb eight-minute hat-trick as Munster hammered a weakened Edinburgh in Musgrave Park.

There was two tries each for Andrew Conway and Chris Farrell – who made his first start of the season following a knee injury – while Tyler Bleyendaal also got in on the act with a score in the second half.

Conor Murray finished the game on the wing for Munster followign an injury for Conway, but it was a carefree run to the finish for the home side.

Edinburgh were second best by a long distance and could only reply with two Duhan van der Merwe tries, but Munster warmed up nicely for their Champions Cup return against Castres with a huge win.

Farrell got the opening try after just four minutes and then Andrew Conway scorched over for two magnificent tries to bring his tally in seven days to five after his magnificent contribution in Ireland’s win over the USA last week.

But at 19-7, Munster weren’t about to allow Edinburgh back into the game and scored a fourth try in 31 minutes to secure a winning bonus point.

Not happy with that, Munster got a fifth try after 34 minutes, Earls getting in for his second after Farrell and Mike Haley did the hard work and the left winger moved on to a hat trick two minutes before the break to secure a facile 34-7 lead.

But the seventh Munster try did not arrive until 16 minutes from time, and it was scored by replacement out-half Tyler Bleyendaal who scored down the blind side of a dominant Munster scrum to make it 39-7 for the home side.

There was time for one more Edinburgh highlight when van der Merwe ran in for his side 11 minutes from time, but that was as good as it got for the Scottish outfit.

And at the death Farrell crowned his first start for Munster since January when he crashed over in the corner three minutes from time to open the winning margin out to 30 points.

YOU’RE RED HOT Munster team mates congratulate Keith Earls after his hat trick last night