Munster, playing expansive rugby at every opportunity, were 14 points up by the 12th minute thanks to tries from Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy both converted by Ronan O'Gara. They went further ahead just before half-time when Jason Holland scored wide on the left after Marcus Horan had been stopped just short under the posts and moments after Prendergast had been forced off with a dislocated shoulder.

Munster brought on Rob Henderson at the start of the second half - he replaced Holland - and Martin Cahill took over from Marcus Horan.

Try number four arrived 14 minutes into the second half from Mike Mullins (24-0) and moments later Jeremy Staunton ripped the Connacht defence apart tbefore passing to Donncha O'Callaghan to score under the posts.(31-0).

By now Munster were rampant and the props, Cahill and Simon Kerr combined to gain the yardage that ended with a try for Henderson (36-0).

Replacement Dominic Crotty was next to score but Connacht finally got themselves on the scoreboard when Wayne Munn scored to the left of the posts with five minutes remaining.