Munster produced a game of their typical masterclass and excellence with a 37-14 bonus point win over USA Perpignan, and in doing just that smashed a record the catalan side held very proud. The very idea of anything other than a home victory wasn’t given the slightest bit consideration by any of the local supporters who simply aren’t used to USAP losing at home. The last time they did, in this competition was when Lawrence Dallaglio led London Wasps to a famous victory in 2004 but their record at home had been formidable to say the least they had not lost at home since that day and Tony Mcgahons men will be delighted with their win today.

Munster started the game quite well and were rewarded with a penalty and thanks to a wonderful kick from the cool headed Ronan O’ Gara were 3-0 up inside the first 10 minutes. From there though the quality of play that got Munster that penalty dropped and soon enough Perpignan were level after a string of penalties against the visitors, which got people asking if Munster were going to put in any effort. From there Munster started to turn things around and were starting to show that quality again, and with that and a huge amount of patience Munster got their first try after bucket loads of pressure, it could have been Warrick but he was held up short of the line, then Fogarty came in low from a far position and over the line for the try which O’Gara converted no questions asked.

On 30 minutes it seemed like that patience and concentration that got Munster that try was gone again and Perpignan were awarded with a penalty which David Mele put over to cut the lead to 4 points. 6 minutes later Mele brought Munsters lead to 1 point through yet another penalty after another string of them, referee David Pearson seeming  a little too generous to the home side, but Munster had a 10-9 half time lead.

The second period started the way Munster started the first, with possession and wonderful play from O’ Conell and Denis Leamy who really were the heart of this Munster team, referee Pearson awarded the Irish side a penalty from sloppy defending from Perpignan which gave Ronan O’Gara another platform and he slotted over no problem and the score was 13-9.

Tempers really started heating up from here on and on 48 minutes from the assist of the assistant referee, David Pearson produced a yellow card to the Perpignan loosehead Schuster for lashing out with his fists against David Wallace. Munster were then given the penalty which O Gara put over again no problem which gave the scoreline a little more respectability 16-9 .

O Gara was proving to be munsters hero again with his sublime kicking but after a late high tackle Ronan was also sent to the bin and more handbags were starting, the Perpignan captain saying it was a red card offence but now pundits are saying there should have been a red for the Perpignan sin bin and that there was very little wrong with what O’ Gara did. Mele kicked a penalty to ensure Munster were not running away with it 16-12 was then the score. Munster from then on didnt seem to show any weakness with O Gara in the bin and from a fantastic few passages of play Munster got in and scored their second try of the match through Daragh Hurley once again Paul O’ Connell set it up nicely with so many turn over balls a well deserved try for Munster with Warrick converting nicely in the absence of O’Gara.

After making a host of subsitiutions Perpignan worked up a try of their own, after forcing a penalty, Mele kicked down field and had Munster defending the line-out on the 10 meter line. But a clever one-two from Nicolas Maas and eventual scorer sub number 16 Guilhem Guirado got the try although the TMO failed to notice that Tomas O’Leary had forced Guirado’s foot out into touch and gave the try, so there you go the refs even get it wrong with a TMO but the conversion kick from Mele went far wide which meant there was more than a converted try in the game.

Munster really looked like they wanted to come away with the bonus point win and soon it was looking like a reality on 73 minutes when an intercept play from Munster and in Particular David Wallace gave the ball to Springbok Jean de Villers who was through for a lovely try which was converted by O’Gara and it gave Munster the belief that they could not only smash a huge record but they could get a bonus point win, but that all seemed to fade, it looked like Munster could get the Bonus point through David Wallace but he knocked on to give the catalan side a scrum on the 5 meter line but Munster once again turned it around and after a huge mistake from Mele Doug Howlet got onto the ball and over the line he went to snatch the bonus point and yes O’Gara converted from a difficult angle and from his kicking it has to give him first preference in the national team when it comes to the Six Nations due to the absence of Jonathon Sexton for Leinster. A wonderful evening for Munster and should now be favourites to get out of the pool and leave Northampton scratching their heads. Final score Munster 37, Perpignan 14.

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