Munsterkeep the pressure on Glasgow with seven-try romp
MUNSTER kept their hopes of home semi-final in the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs alive after destroying a lacklustre Edinburgh in Meggetland yesterday.
Rob Penney’s men bounced back from their Heineken Cup semi-final agony against Toulon by coming from behind and, when they finally clicked into gear, scored seven tries to stay hot on the heels of second-placed Glasgow Warriors.
It was a performance to raise spirits after a brave showing in Marseilles, when less errors and cannier tactics could have produced a famous victory against the European champions.
Any fears that Munster would not be able recapture their focus for their PRO12 duties were banished with a powerful showing in attack and defence, notably in the second half, and Alan Solomons team, featuring a clutch of South African players, were unable to cope, continuing their hugely disappointing season.
A Munster team showing 11 changes from the side that lost to Toulon were on the back foot early on as Edinburgh scored through stand-off Bezuidenhout. Stung by this, Munster produced 10 points in three minutes, a JJ Hanrahan penalty followed by Andrew Conway’s superb angled, scoring surge.
Hanrahan converted and put his side into a 10-5 lead with 15 minutes gone but Edinburgh hit back with a try from prop WP Nel, converted by Greig Laidlaw to put Edinburgh 12-10 up.
Munster took a single-point lead with a Hanrahan penalty and upped the pressure in the closing moments of the half with Denis Hurley cruising over for his try, converted by Hanrahan for a 20-12 lead.
Munster began the second half with a score from substitute hooker Damien Varley, swiftly followed by a penalty try as the scrum continued to dominate. Munster were in total control for the remainder of the game scoring three more tries and taking their total beyond the half-century.
Duncan Williams rounded off another fluent passing move with 15 minutes remaining and the Munster scrum forced a penalty score for the second time in the game, with lock Grant Gilchrist sin-binned and Conor Murray converting. Tommy O’Donnell rounded off the win in injury time.
Edinburgh still have a part to play in sorting out the play-off positions as next week they visit current leaders Leinster while Munster host four-placed fellow qualifiers Ulster in Thomond Park.
Glasgow are at home to Italian strugglers Zebre in their final regular season fixture.