Munster recorded a convincing 33-5 bonus-point win over Zebre at a blustery Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Sammy Arnold continued his impressive try-scoring form with two tries, Brian Scott scored his first Munster try on his first Munster start and Man of the Match Robin Copeland and Rory Scannell also touched down.

JJ Hanrahan kicked one conversion with replacement Ian Keatley adding three more. The win sees Munster close the gap on Conference A leaders Glasgow Warriors to 12 points with the sides meeting at Irish Independent Park on Friday, February 23, as Munster travel to Cardiff Blues next Saturday night.

Munster had to repel a number of Zebre attacks early on as the visitors made the most of the strong wind at their backs with the pack doing especially well to defend a number of rolling mauls.

Arnold, fresh from signing a two-year contract extension, went over for the first try after 25 minutes. The centre showed great awareness and pace to spot the gap and burst for the left corner with Conor Oliver, another man to sign on the dotted line recently, providing the pass. Hanrahan’s touchline conversion drifted just right and Munster led 5-0.

When presented with a second opportunity as the half drew to a close, the hosts finished clinically as Brian Scott touched down off a well-executed rolling maul for his first try for the province as Hanrahan added the touchline conversion.

Zebre were unlucky not to score just before the break following a flowing move as Faialaga Afamasaga crossed but the try was ruled out for a forward pass and Munster led 12-0 at the interval.

There was a scrappy start to the second half with both sides struggling with the conditions and Zebre were deservedly back in the game on 52 minutes as scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani broke off a five-metre scrum to score. The conversion was pulled wide and the Munster lead was down to seven.

That try sparked Munster into life and the response was immediate as they started to play with much more intensity and the result was two tries in four minutes.

First, Robin Copeland grounded the ball from the base of a ruck after Oliver had been halted just short of the line.

Replacements Ian Keatley and Rory Scannell then combined brilliantly for the bonus-point try with Keatley racing through a gap before offloading to Scannell to cross for a well-worked score. Keatley converted both scores and Munster led 26-5.

A second try for Arnold on 74 minutes put the gloss on the win as debutant John Poland, Kevin O’Byrne and Scannell combined to set up the score. Keatley slotted the conversion to seal a 28-point victory.

Guinness PRO14 Round 14 Round-Up

Brian Scott scored his first Munster try on his first senior start.

Duncan Williams made his 150^th appearance for the province in the victory.

Dan Goggin returned from injury for his first start of the season with Dave O’Callaghan also back from injury as he made his first appearance of the season off the bench.

Gerbrandt Grobler and John Poland made their Guinness PRO14 debuts for Munster as replacements.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Dan Goggin (Rory Scannell, 52) Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan (Ian Keatley, 52) Duncan Williams (John Poland, 59); James Cronin (Jeremy Loughman, 69), Niall Scannell (Kevin O’Byrne, 60), Brian Scott (John Ryan, 53); Jean Kleyn (Gerbrandt Grobler, 59), Billy Holland (C); Jack O’Donoghue (Dave O’Callaghan, 60), Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland.