Impressive win for Munster

Munster have stolen a march in Pool One of the Heineken Cup after putting in a hugely impressive display to beat Perpignan 37-14.

The Irish province scored a total of four converted tries in a match which, given the reputation of the Stade Aime Giral as something of a fortress, they could have approached with a less lofty aim.

The French champions scored three tries themselves when they took a bonus-point defeat at Thomond Park last weekend but any assumptions of a home win were gradually eroded - particularly in the second half.

Although they started brightly enough, Perpignan fell behind to a Denis Fogarty try and a further score from Denis Hurley left them with much to do.

Home hopes of a revival were briefly raised when Guilhem Guirado burst over in the 66th minute but Jean de Villiers responded in kind almost immediately, before Doug Howlett crossed late on to secure the bonus point.

Intent

Backed by a vociferous crowd, it was Perpignan who showed their attacking intent first, with both Maxime Mermoz and the combined power of Marius Tincu and David Mele offering breaks during the opening 15 minutes.

By that stage Mele had kicked the home side ahead but Ronan O'Gara - who also missed a drop goal - drew level.

Munster went ahead in the 22nd minute and the try came as a result of good work from Alan Quinlan on the left-hand flank. The second row was stopped short of the line, as then was Paul Warwick but Fogerty crossed, with O'Gara converting.

The half closed with Perpignan looking to fight their way back - and they had their chances. A response could have come from Charlie Watchou's 27th minute break but Philip Burger's final ball to Yoann Vivalda found touch.

Mele also kicked two penalties in this period but missed two more - the second of which, in the 39th minute, would have handed them the lead.

There was also tension in the air, with fisticuffs breaking out in the 36th minute after Vivalda crashed into the back of Fogarty and again two minutes later as Perpignan pressed forward.

However, they slowly unravelled in the second half, with a poor performance at the set piece and, in particular, at the breakdown contributing to their demise.

O'Gara kicked two quick penalties, the second of which came after home prop Jerome Schuster was sin-binned for head-butting Denis Leamy.

Munster's number 10 was soon in receipt of a yellow card for cynical play of his own though.

Open game

With each side one man down, the game was by now well-and-truly open and it was the visitors who made it count in the 57th minute when an excellent pass from Warwick teed up Hurley, who sliced through.

Warwick also deputised well for O'Gara, converting the extras.

Perpignan by now needed two converted scores and one try came when replacement hooker Guirado caught Munster unawares at a line-out and burst through to score.

However, Mele could not convert and the result was never in doubt just as soon as De Villiers accepted a pass from Tomas O'Leary and went route one.

Given the number of turnovers Munster made in the match, it was perhaps fitting that one in the closing moments set up their bonus-point try as Howlett ran on to O'Gara's chip unopposed.