Munster Good Early Form Continues

Two tries apiece for James Coughlan and newcomer Ciaran O’Boyle helped Munster to a 36-7 win over Viadana in Musgrave Park.

Munster took the lead with a try from skipper James Coughlan in the tenth minute and the response from the visitors came when it looked like Munster must extend their lead only for Roberto Mariani to intercept Rua Tipoki’s pass and race the length of the field for a try under the posts.

The Munster response however was immediate with new cap Ciaran O’ Boyle first making good ground down the right wing and then blocking an attempted Hayden Reid clearance of his chip ahead, to gather and leave Jeremy Manning with an easy conversion.

Viadana out-half Calvin Howarth was wide with a penalty attempt in the 31st minute but Manning made no mistake from a similar distance and the young New Zealander then saw his conversion attempt  of Federico Pucciariello’s try come back off the upright to send Munster in at the break with a healthy and deserved 15 point lead (22-7)

To their credit the visitors continued to play expansive rugby but Munster defended well and Coughlan crashed over near the posts in the 56th minute after a sustauined bout of pressure. Then three minutes from time, O’Boyle collected a Manning cross field kick, one that Ronan O’Gara would have been proud of, to score his second and Munster’s fifth try.

Munster: M Lawlor (L Mafi 27th min); A Horgan (I Dowling ht), K Lewis, R Tipoki (K Earls 58th min), C O’Boyle; J Manning, G Hurley (D Williams ht); E McGovern (D Hurley temp), S Cronin, F Pucciariello (T Ryan 60th min); B Holland, M Melbourne; T O’Donnell (D Hurley 67th min), N Ronan, J Coughlan capt

Viadana: H Reid; H Pedersen, S Pace, G Law, R Mariani; C Howarth, S Bortolussi; L Milani, L Ferraro, I Rouyet; M Filippini, D Waller capt; S Harding, L Persico, A Benatti.