Munster made a serious statement of intent at Murrayfield tonight as the battle for PRO12 play-off places continues, running in five tries in comprehensively defeating Edinburgh. The game also saw Simon Zebo become Munster’s leading try scorer in the history of the league.

Munster now move up to second on the PRO12 league table following tonight’s result.

A sprightly start from the hosts saw them go through the phases, making yards as they went and eventually forcing Munster to cough-up the game's opening penalty with Edinburgh camped on the try line. Tom Heathcote duly made it 3-0 on 5 minutes.

Munster for their part were impressive in their first venture into Edinburgh territory, making good yardage from each collision and displaying serious physicality. However, a knock on in contact just inches from the try line presented the Scotsmen with the chance to clear their lines

A lack of precision would cost Anthony Foley's charges in the opening 20 as they struggled to hit their stride, failing to secure possession from their first attacking line-out and later infringing in their own attacking maul.

Offside from Edinburgh would eventually allow Ian Keatley to get Munster off the mark on 20 minutes.

Slowly but surely, the province began to click and constantly threaten the Edinburgh whitewash, Felix Jones doing well to charge down and claim an attempted clearance, but the subsequent kick through from Keatley was just too far ahead of the oncoming Simon Zebo – the ball beating him to the end-line.

As Munster received threats of yellow cards for repeated infringements at scrum time, so too did the hosts, theirs for persistently pulling down the dominant Munster maul.

One such threat from referee Ian Davies presented Munster with a kickable penalty, however, recognising their superiority in the maul, Munster went down the line – a decision that paid dividends with Duncan Casey crossing for the opening try of the game on 34 minutes.

Keatley’s conversion gave Munster a seven point cushion that would take them to the interval.

The set piece that had been somewhat stop-start for the province in the opening 40, would become a well-oiled machine as Munster put Edinburgh to the sword in the second half.

Again sensing their ascendancy in the maul and knowing the importance of every available league point, Peter O’Mahony and co. repeatedly kicked to touch and drove for the line, the net result of which was CJ Stander’s seventh league try of the season on 51 minutes.

Neat interplay and pace from Keith Earls and returning speedy prop James Cronin brought Munster straight back into the Edinburgh 22 from the restart. With Tim Visser yellow carded for holding on to Cronin in the tackle, unsurprisingly Munster kept faith with their fruitful maul and kicked down the line from the resultant penalty.

Despite a knock on the first time of asking, advantage allowed Munster to go again and this time it was man of the match Conor Murray who pounced from the back of another driving maul for the visitor’s third try. Keatley slotted the extras to give Munster a 19 point lead on 57 minutes.

Five minutes later and the bonus point was secured as Simon Zebo scored in style to become Munster’s leading try scorer in the history of the league – 23 tries – and trust Zeebs to break the record in style. A neat kick ahead from Felix Jones saw the winger in another footrace with the ball as it raced towards the end-line. This time, the Cork-man won the battle, getting a fingertip to the ball as he dived at full stretch. After a lengthy deliberation with the TMO, Davies adjudged Zebo to have applied downward pressure on the ball and awarded the try.

With a maximum point return from the trip to Scotland secure, the icing on the cake came from Keith Earls. In similar fashion to what we witnessed against Connacht at Thomond Park a fortnight ago, Denis Hurley again kicked though for the oncoming Earls who secured Munster’s fifth try of the evening.

Keatley’s conversion made it 3-34 with 15 minutes to play and despite a resurgence from the home side, Munster’s defence held firm, protecting a comprehensive lead that may well prove crucial in the league standings should points difference come into play.

3-34 the full-time score.

Munster: Felix Jones (Williams 73); Keith Earls (O’Mahony 65), Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley (Hanrahan 65), Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne (Cronin 51), Duncan Casey (Guinazu 61), BJ Botha (Archer 61); Billy Holland (Ryan 51), Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony – capt. (O'Callaghan 63), Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Donnacha Ryan, Dave O'Callaghan, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

Munster’s next competitive Guinness PRO12 action is at home to Benetton Treviso at Irish Independent Park, Cork in a fortnight’s time (Saturday April 25^th KO 3.05pm). Be there to show your support as Munster look to consolidate their play-off position and battle for a home semi-final.

Tickets from €;15 can be purchased online by clicking here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park or Irish Independent Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.