JJ Hanrahan couldn't have wished for a better first start for Munster as he scored two tries and they saw off bottom side Zebre 29-3.
All the scoring was left to the kickers in a scrappy, stop-start first half at Thomond Park and even they weren't having a good day as Gonzalo Garcia, Daniel Halangahu and Ian Keatley all missed from the tee.
Both sides found it difficult to build any kind of momentum at all as the game was punctuated by infringements and the sound of the referee's whistle but Keatley and Halangahu did finally register with a penalty apiece to make it 3-3 at the break.
And, probably after a suitably frank discussion at half-time, the home side began to play with far more purpose and attacking intent in the opening stages of the second half and it wasn't long before they got their reward.
Indeed, tries were like buses for Munster and two arrived in fairly quick succession as 20-year-old centre Hanrahan, on his first start for the club, and full-back Felix Jones both crossed the whitewash to the relief of the home faithful.
And, despite more of Zebre's best efforts in defence in a feisty second half, the hosts managed to put the drab and disappointing first half well and truly behind them by snatching a bonus point late on.
Hanrahan rounded off a night to remember for him personally by completing his brace of tries, and taking the man of the match award away with him as well, and Luke O'Dea sealed the bonus point with a fourth try with just a few minutes to spare.
The scorers:
For Munster:
Tries: Jones, O'Dea, Hanrahan 2
Cons: Keatley 3
Pen: Keatley
For Zebre:
Pen: Halangahu
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Luke O'Dea, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Paddy Butler. 7 Peter O'Mahony, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donncha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Johne Murphy, 23 Denis Hurley.
Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 David Odiete, 13 Gonzalo Garcia (c), 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Alberto Chiesa, 9 Luca Martinelli, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Josh Sole, 4 Emiliano Caffini, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 David Ryan, 19 Filippo Cazzola, 20 Nicola Belardo, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Leonardo Sarto.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Comments
Tombomb says...
It's no suprize to me hanrahan got motm award on his first start the guy has serious talent and should be drafted into the Ireland squad asap but it's a real shame that rob penny a kidney didn't noice his talent earlier if your good enough your old enough
Posted 23:59 02nd November 2012