Bad lineouts, a porous midfield, ill-timed errors at critical moments - Young Munster know they've serious problems and as they departed Stradbrook with their fifth defeat in as many games weighing heavily, they were also left to consider the fact that they are conceding points at quite a startling rate of 29 a match.
Firmly rooted to the bottom of the table in their worst beginning to a season since the AIL came into being, there was little comfort in Munsters' performance save that they have a gathering of good players along the backline.
On paper, with a quiet Rob Henderson making his first start of the season in the centre, they had plenty to offer but only at one stage, when they came to within six points of Blackrock, did even the beginnings of a revival appear likely.
Blackrock left wing Conor Kilroy kicked well and helped himself to a well finished try to add to his three penalties and four conversions.
But it was full back Natham Turner who orchestrated most of the Blackrock manoeuvres. Turner scored the first try after centre Gary Browne skated through the middle of Munsters' defence untouched, while it was also the Australian's break which ended with prop Niall Treston going over for the second try.
Munsters hit back with a Leo Doyle touch-down just before half-time, Des Clohessy making good yardage on the left to set Doyle in motion. But that was the end of it and as Blackrock grew in confidence in the second half, they again raised the tempo to chase down the four-try bonus point.
That phase began two minutes after the break when full back Mick Lynch fumbled a high ball. Michael Price, up sharply to force the pressure, turned it over along the line for Kilroy to run in at the left corner flag.
With a couple of more penalties from Kilroy and at 28-8 the issue was beyond doubt. Fittingly Turner then stepped up to claim the bonus point, centre Andy O'Neill setting up the move. Gary Browne added Blackrock's fifth try and Kilroy converted for one of the side's biggest scorelines for some time.
Scoring sequence: 23 mins: Turner try, Kilroy con, 7-0; 26: Treston try, Kilroy con, 14-0; 35: Lynch pen, 14-3; 38: Doyle try, 14-8; 40: Kilroy pen 17-8. 42: Kilroy try, 22-8; 47: Kilroy pen, 25-8; 51: Kilroy pen, 28-8; 66: Turner try, Kilroy con, 35-8; 77: Browne try, Kilroy con, 42-8.
BLACKROCK: N Turner; M Price, G Browne, A O'Neill, C Kilroy; J Corry, J Ferris; A McSweeney, G McEvoy, N Treston, J Fitzgerald, T Hogan, R Woods, D O'Brien, G McCarthy. Replacements: R Rogers for McCarthy (56 mins), B Twoomey for Ferris (65 mins), R Lacey for Fitgerald, D Laide for McEvoy (both 68 mins; A Campbell for Price (71 mins); I McLaughlin for Treston (79 mins).
YOUNG MUNSTER: M Lynch; J Hayes, R Henderson, L Doyle, C Doyle; M Prendergast, E Reddan; D Clohessy, P Ryan, P O'Hanlon, D Peters, B Murray, D McNamara, C Gallagher, D Edwards. Replacements; P Lynch for Edwards (40 mins); E Buckley for Doyle (54 mins).
Referee: D Courtney (Leinster).
