Pre-season friendly: In a pre-season challenge in which 61 players appeared it was not surprising that Munster's big guns inflicted all the damage in the first 14 minutes of a three period game.
With the Irish management instructing Munster to use their international players, it was a case of men against the boys. The Munster pack sucked in their Connacht counterparts at an alarming rate and cruised to a 5-19 lead.
Three tries in the first period established Munster's lead. The opening try from Keith Wood came after a lineout catch and drive. Connacht spurned three opening chances while Munster made their position count when John Fogarty lost possession near the line and the result was a try to Anthony Horgan after David Wallace had made the break.
Munster's created a succession of overlaps throughout the opening 40 minutes and Conrad O'Sullivan was the grateful recipient, touching down in the left corner after 26 minutes.
Connacht's response was a try from Conor O'Loughlin while the two ensuing periods saw Munster replacement Jason Jones Hughes scoring three in a row. Henry Burke added respectability to the scoreline with a late try.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 7 mins: K Wood try, Holland con, 0-7; 20 mins: A Horgan try, Holland con, 0-14; 26 mins: C O'Sullivan try, 0-19; 37 mins: C O'Loughlin try, 5-19; 50 min: J Hughes try, 5-24; 59 mins: J Hughes try, C O'Sullivan con, 5-31: 77 mins: J Hughes try, F McLoughlin con, 5-38; 97 min: H Burke try, D Hewitt con, 12-38.
CONNACHT: W Munn, M Mostyn, D Yapp, S Moore, C McPhillips, D Hewitt, C O'Loughlin , W O'Kelly, J Fogarty, A Clarke, D Browne, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, T Carter, M Lacey. Replacements: J O'Sullivan for Carter, M Swift for Browne, F Boireaux for Clarke, M Uijs for Fogarty, T Robinson for Mostyn, M Carroll for Lacey, (all 40 mins); D McFarland for O Kelly, H Burke for Uijs C Keane for O'Loughlin, P O'Sullivan for Yapp, (all 70 mins); C O'Loughlin for Moore (85 mins).
MUNSTER: D Crotty, M Lawlor, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan, C O'Sullivan, P Stringer, S Kerr, K Wood, J Dannaher, T Hogan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Williams. Replacements: J Hughes for Holland (30 mins); F Roche for Kerr, E Halvey for Hogan, J Blaney for Wood, (all 40 mins), F McLoughlin for O'Sullivan (67 mins); M McPhail for Horgan (68 mins); D Leamy for Quinlan, A Long for Blaney, E Reddan for Stringer (all 70 mins); J Flannery for Long (85 mins).
Referee: D Keane (Leinster)
