Munster got their 2017/18 Guinness PRO14 campaign off to the perfect start with a bonus point win against Benetton Rugby in Irish Independent Park tonight.

Thanks to six tries and an impenetrable defence the men in red claimed the spoils to secure their first five points of the new season.

First half-tries from Jean Kleyn, Tyler Bleyendaal, Darren Sweetnam, Alex Wootton and Andrew Conway had the hosts well ahead come half-time, and an early converted effort from Kleyn was the difference in a subdued final forty.

The South African lock made his presence felt following a return from long-term injury.  In barging his way over in the opening 10 minutes he became the first try scorer of the new Guinness PRO14 Championship.

Munster’s continued dominance through the early phases then created the gap for Bleyendaal to dot down for Munster’s second, and two became three when neat hands from Wootton sent his fellow winger Sweetnam over in the corner.

Wootton himself bagged the bonus point try just after the half hour mark in what was the play of the game. Giving an inspired man-of-the-match performance, Conway’s aerial take and break was the catalyst – Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue, Sweetnam and Bleyendaal all giving a masterclass in interplay with Wootton finishing off the counter attack in the left corner.

Man of the match Andrew Conway.
©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Conway’s scintillating form continued and was rewarded with a try four minutes later, running a hard line and taking the deftest of offloads from his back three counterpart Sweetnam.

Not enjoying his best of nights off the tee, Bleyendaal slotted just one opening-half conversion and Munster led 27-3 at the break.

The second 40 would be a far tamer affair.  Working through the phases off a strong scrum, Kleyn secured his brace on 49 minutes and that would be it in terms of scores for the men in red.

If the earlier exchanges were all about attack, the latter were focused on defence.  Yet that too was impressive, never wavering to the bruising Italians who failed to register a single point from their superior second half possession.

Munster deserved winners on a 34-3 scoreline.

Guinness PRO14 Round 1:  On the injury front there was cause for concern when Dan Goggin was stretchered off with a leg injury after 74 minutes.  He continues to be assessed by the medical team.

On 41 minutes Mike Sherry was introduced to rapturous applause for his first competitive action since May 2016, returning from a long-term back injury.

Three academy players featured in the side with first starts for Liam O’Connor and Sean O’Connor while Fineen Wycherley featured off the bench.

Chris Farrell and replacements James Hart and Ciaran Parker make their competitive debuts for the province.

Munster: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell (D Goggin 66), Jaco Taute (I Keatley 50), Alex Wootton, Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams (J Hart 55); Liam O’Connor (B Scott 69), Rhys Marshall (M Sherry 41), Stephen Archer (C Parker 63); Jean Kleyn (F Wycherley 60), Billy Holland (R Copeland 59); Sean O’Connor, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Brian Scott, Ciaran Parker, Fineen Wycherley, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Dan Goggin.

After the game, MunsterRugby.ie spoke to academy lock Sean O’Connor following his first senior start…

Next Home Game

Next Saturday, September 9^th, Munster return to Thomond Park to face Cheetahs.  Be there to witness history as the province take on South African opposition for the first time in competition.

Adult tickets from €20 and Family tickets from €40 can be purchased online here.