Munster deliver knockout blow to Treviso
Munster scored six tries as they beat Treviso 44-7 in clinical fashion at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo. The bonus-point win puts them in pole position to finish top of Pool One in their Heineken Cup campaign.
It was a Munster-blitz as the visitors ran the Italian champions all over the park, scoring tries through Keith Earls, Denis Hurley, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul Warwick, and Donnacha Ryan. Ronan O’Gara added 12 points of his own with the boot.
Alessandro Zanni scored an intercept try for Treviso by it was stark consolation in a match that saw them totally outplayed, and eliminated from the competition.
The result has set up what should be a fiercely contested match with second place Northampton Saints, as the two sides meet tonight in Limerick.
Munster will be favourites at home, but Saints coach Jim Mallinder says his side will travel with confidence and self belief in the hope of coming out on top.
"Many of their players are familiar faces from their exploits for Munster, Ireland and the Lions," said Mallinder.
"But when the whistle blows it is just 15 men against 15, and if we play to our potential and stick to our game-plan there is no reason why we can't win.
"We are going in on the back of a good run - I think we are unbeaten in nine or 10 games - and that is very encouraging. But we also know it is going to be very, very tough - Munster are playing very well.
"However, so are we and we will take a lot of confidence from that, concentrate on our own game this week and go over there with both confidence and belief," he said.
It's tipped to be another classic European match, so try not to miss this one.
Time: 03:00
It was a Munster-blitz as the visitors ran the Italian champions all over the park, scoring tries through Keith Earls, Denis Hurley, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul Warwick, and Donnacha Ryan. Ronan O’Gara added 12 points of his own with the boot.
Alessandro Zanni scored an intercept try for Treviso by it was stark consolation in a match that saw them totally outplayed, and eliminated from the competition.
The result has set up what should be a fiercely contested match with second place Northampton Saints, as the two sides meet tonight in Limerick.
Munster will be favourites at home, but Saints coach Jim Mallinder says his side will travel with confidence and self belief in the hope of coming out on top.
"Many of their players are familiar faces from their exploits for Munster, Ireland and the Lions," said Mallinder.
"But when the whistle blows it is just 15 men against 15, and if we play to our potential and stick to our game-plan there is no reason why we can't win.
"We are going in on the back of a good run - I think we are unbeaten in nine or 10 games - and that is very encouraging. But we also know it is going to be very, very tough - Munster are playing very well.
"However, so are we and we will take a lot of confidence from that, concentrate on our own game this week and go over there with both confidence and belief," he said.
It's tipped to be another classic European match, so try not to miss this one.
Time: 03:00
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28 Comments:
fuck to all the usual firtsters, i'm FIRST
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2010 2:00 pm
I have a ticket for tonight. VERY HAPPY
By Unknown, at January 22, 2010 2:07 pm
damn that no13 and no15 absolutly took the poor italians apart, of course after the forwards did the tough part :)
By sebastian, at January 22, 2010 2:12 pm
It's great to see Jean DeVilliers starting to click with the team, he's a quality player and I can see him becoming very popular with Munster fans.
By Mike, at January 22, 2010 2:38 pm
Donnach OCallanhan runs like a goon.
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2010 2:44 pm
haha, the picture is highly appropriate to the caption
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2010 3:28 pm
hahaha the absolute shite POC comes out with some times "played a bit too much rugby at times!" hahaha i know what he's trying to say but my god! Great showing from the men in red! Warick look amazing involved in nearly everything showing, Keith Earls looked dangerous too!
By Conor, at January 22, 2010 3:40 pm
Does anyone have a clip of Nick Mallett getting the ball back from a Munster fan in the crowd during this game? Looked a bit heated on the TV.
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2010 4:03 pm
agree -brilliant pic, Desperate Dan knuckle sandwiches someone who was sniffin at his cowpie...
By mise, at January 22, 2010 4:04 pm
notice how in the post match interview o'connell says northampton instead of treviso. One eys on this weekends game I think
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2010 4:16 pm
interesting hand off, if he were french there would be lots of complaints right now.
that is surely all the evidence the citing officer needs.
By mat, at January 22, 2010 5:09 pm
Munster scored some nice tries, Mafi may aswell say good bye to the number 12 shirt for the foreseeable. Wouldn't have expected anything less from Munster. Going to be a cracker tonight!
By Nicky07, at January 22, 2010 5:49 pm
If Jeff Blackett sees this picture...
By David A., at January 22, 2010 8:43 pm
Going to throw the question out there, if anyone would like to answer.
Is O'Gara the only Pro Rugby player who doesn't where a gum shield? Can't recall another.
I know its not that important but I've been watching it for awhile now and I never see him with one. Which when you think of his big toothy American grin makes you wonder how no one has tried to alter it bar the Warrath (McKray??).
Oh and Munster beat Northampton 15-12. Tense, tense affair with Northampton afraid to play their usual game. Munster did run a couple of balls from there 22 but they came to nought.
Its likely they could meet in the 1/4s, Munster are confirmed 1st or 2nd seeds (Leinster can top Munster but Toulouse would have to hammer Sale in Sale and score 6/7 tries to push Munster back to 3rd), while Northampton could be 7th/8th, could be very interesting, another arm wrestle on the cards.
By Huh!! the 3rd, at January 23, 2010 1:06 am
My humblest apologies, 'twas only 12-9, not 15-12. Does it matter though, really.
By Huh!! the 3rd, at January 23, 2010 1:28 am
O'connel looks like a big dick
By Anonymous, at January 23, 2010 2:11 am
'Is O'Gara the only Pro Rugby player who doesn't where a gum shield? Can't recall another.'
Couldnt name names but no, its down to preference......i get pre game nerves no matter what game and leading up to the first kick im gagging with a gumshield in my mouth..... although i value my teeth to much to not wear one.
By Anonymous, at January 23, 2010 2:21 am
I like teeth
By Anonymous, at January 23, 2010 3:45 am
No13 and no15 are clones
By Ave88, at January 23, 2010 7:48 am
^ both look like mini Paul O'connels, mini dicks.
By Anonymous, at January 23, 2010 10:58 am
o connell is god
By Anonymous, at January 23, 2010 2:22 pm
Dont think david wallace wears a gumshield either
By MCB, at January 24, 2010 3:02 am
um bakkies botha is much better than anyone on these teams!!!! or any other team for that matter, he owned o'connel in te lions tour!!!
By Anonymous, at January 24, 2010 6:12 pm
Nice irrelevant comment there, also Simon shaw ate bakkies for breakfast as I recall. Great play from Munster, wonderful to see such a traditionally negative team playing such open, flowing rugby. Wonderful to seen De Villiers back his best too, with Keith Earls and doug howlett outside him I predict tries galore.
By The Schpoople Master, at January 24, 2010 6:33 pm
sweet, home draws for both Munster and Leinster. Imagine an all Ireland final in Paris! ;)
By Anonymous, at January 24, 2010 11:51 pm
just jealous cos bakkies was a world cup winner and he beat the lions, shaw is washed up and bakkies destroyed jones too! and scared the crap out of BOD! lol!!!
By Anonymous, at January 25, 2010 3:24 am
De Villiers, Warwick and Earls look awesome.
By Disco, at January 25, 2010 12:51 pm
Isn't Shaw a WC winner also, squad member at the least?
By Huh!! the 3rd, at January 25, 2010 4:47 pm
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