Munster secured a six-try bonus-point win to make it four wins from four in the Pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup and finish third in Pool B against Wasps at Thomond Park on Sunday.
Johann van Graan’s side will face the side who finish sixth in Pool A, which will be either Exeter Chiefs or Sale Sharks.
Jack O’Donoghue was the Player of the Match on the day he became the youngest Munster man to reach the 150-appearance landmark.
Simon Zebo scored two tries as he became Munster’s record European try-scorer with 25 as Conor Murray, O’Donoghue, Jeremy Loughman and Rory Scannell also touched down.
After lockdown restrictions were lifted on Friday night, we were delighted to welcome a large crowd of 13,047 who got behind the team from the off.
Wasps’ Thomas Young received lengthy treatment for an injury before half-time and will stay in hospital overnight, we wish him all the best.
Dave Kilcoyne (illness) and Keith Earls (high leg strain) were both late withdrawals for Munster with Jeremy Loughman and Simon Zebo coming into the side.
Josh Wycherley and Greencore Munster Rugby Academy back-row forward Alex Kendellen were drafted onto the bench.
Stephen Archer was to the fore early on with a number of carries and Murray trotted over for the first try after nine minutes.
Dan Robson knocked the ball on as Tadhg Beirne looked to receive the pass and Murray scored the easiest of tries, awarded consultation with the TMO. Ben Healy converted to make it 7-0.
Loughman won a big turnover penalty after loose Wasps play in their own 22 and Healy knocked over the penalty to make it 10-0 with 15 minutes played.
Munster were on the attack again off the restart with Healy releasing Conway up the right flank to get Munster back into Wasps territory.
The second try was a beauty as Healy received the ball off a lineout and chipped over for Zebo to score his 24th Munster try in the Champions Cup to move ahead of the great Anthony Foley.
Healy’s conversion made it 17-0 after 17 minutes.
Wasps hit back with a Robson try on 26 minutes after the scrum-half sniped over with Charlie Atkinson converting to make it 17-7.
Normal service was resumed minutes later as O’Donoghue finished well from close range after a monster carry from Gavin Coombes off the back of a scrum.
Wasps ended the half in the ascendancy with Gavin Coombes sin-binned after repeat Munster infringements but the Munster maul defence was outstanding to hold out the visitors.
Munster were in for the bonus-point try that clinched third place in Pool B through Loughman on 44 minutes after Scannell was stopped just short.
The game turned scrappy afterwards with both changes making multiple changes although Haley nearly got Zebo away on the left wing.
Robson was sin-binned for taking out Murray before Tadhg Beirne won a vital turnover as Wasps, who needed one match point to qualify for the knock-outs, were building momentum.
Conway saw a try disallowed for a Jack Crowley forward pass but Munster ended the match with two excellent scores.
After a lineout on the right wing, the ball was spread left with Haley giving the final pass for Zebo to finished expertly as always. Crowley landed the touchline conversion to make it 38-7
Another flowing move gave Munster try number six in the final play with Scannell touching down with Crowley making it 45-7 in the final act.
Heineken Champions Cup Round 4 Round-Up
Munster made it four wins from four to reach the Champions Cup knock-outs.
Simon Zebo made his first European appearance for Munster since rejoining the province over the summer.
Zebo is now Munster’s record Champions Cup try-scorer with 25.
Jack O’Donoghue became the youngest player to reach the 150-cap landmark for Munster.
Academy players Scott Buckley and Alex Kendellen both featured in the clash.
Munster: Mike Haley (Jack Crowley, 55-67); Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy (Jack Crowley, 67), Conor Murray (Craig Casey, 65); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, 58), Diarmuid Barron (Scott Buckley, 50), Stephen Archer (John Ryan, 58); Jean Kleyn (Fineen Wycherley, 58), Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C) (John Hodnett, 69), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes (Alex Kendellen, 58).
