Munster overcame a dogged Zebre side and tough handling conditions to emerge with a valuable 32-7 bonus point win at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, getting both Conor Murray and Chris Farrell on the pitch for their seasonal debuts.
A late two-try surge, with the returning Ronan O’Mahony and Rory Scannell touching down, got the job done for Johann van Graan’s men, who had a second successive man-of-the-match performance from hooker Kevin O’Byrne, the scorer of their second try on the half hour mark.
Bill Johnston, a late inclusion at out-half for an ill JJ Hanrahan, converted tries from Fineen Wycherley, another impressive performer, and O’Byrne and added a late penalty to establish a 17-0 half-time lead on a heavy pitch, which required plenty of patience and perseverance from both teams given the number of errors.
The resilient Munster defence eventually gave way in the 63rd minute when replacement flanker Renato Giammarioli touched down, but the visitors stormed their way to maximum points with a 15-point haul during the final 11 minutes. The province remain eight points behind Conference A leaders Glasgow Warriors whose Scottish rivals Edinburgh visit Cork next Friday night.
The fit-again O’Mahony, Conor Oliver and Ireland internationals Conor Murray and Chris Farrell all featured in a Munster matchday squad for the first time this season. It was one of their up-and-coming forwards, 20-year-old lock Wycherley, who opened the scoring with 15 minutes on the clock.
Arno Botha and Wycherley provided go-forward ball with strong carries and although an opportunity was missed when Alex Wootton knocked on from a terrific Gavin Coombes offload, a penalty stuck into the corner by Johnston paved the way for Wycherley’s well-finished score under the posts.
The forwards-dominated action continue with O’Byrne a central figure. The Cork-born front rower crashed over in the left corner via quick hands from Neil Cronin and Mike Haley, with number 8 Botha and Jeremy Loughman – on his first GUINNESS PRO14 start – also deserving credit for their carrying in the build-up.
The 21-year-old Johnston brilliantly swept over the conversion and landed a long range penalty, on the stroke of half-time, for a 17-point advantage, a solid return for Munster’s efforts across the opening 40 minutes.
It was more of an even contest after the break with Zebre piling on the pressure through their pack for more than 20 minutes. They had enough territory to force a score and it belatedly arrived entering the final quarter. Munster had held out from a lineout drive, but Giammarioli successfully dived over from a close-in ruck with TMO Dave Pearson confirming the grounding.
The right-sided conversion was knocked over by South African Francois Brummer, cutting the gap to 10 points, but the Munstermen, with Murray and Farrell getting the final 30 minutes under their belts, went up a gear or two to regain control and back up their recent bonus point victory in Bloemfontein.
The Italians were penalised for offside, 25 metres out, and Scannell took over the kicking duties to make it 20-7. With young blindside Gavin Coombes standing out for his industry and effective play on his first PRO14 start, the province’s endeavour was rewarded with a clinical two-try finish.
Captain Tyler Bleyendaal’s kick in behind the Zebre defence had Brummer under pressure from the inrushing Murray and the ball went loose for O’Mahony to ground his first try since scoring against the same opposition in March 2017. He did really well to get his right hand down ahead of Josh Renton after Brummer’s poor attempted pass to his team-mate.
Botha’s lineout take and a muscular pack drive earned a 78th minute penalty, Munster playing the advantage as O’Mahony palmed back Bleyendaal’s cross-field kick on the right wing. The ball went to ground but Haley retained possession, set up a close-in ruck and Murray’s pinpoint pass played in Scannell who cut in from close to the touchline to pocket the bonus point.
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