Munster blow Blues away

Simon Zebo marked his return to the Munster starting line-up with a try as the PRO12 leaders produced a scintillating second-half display to down Cardiff Blues 54-13.

JJ Hanrahan was at his best from the tee, bagging 24 points, with Dave Kilcoyne's first-half try, a first home score for Gerhard Van den Heever, a penalty try and late efforts from Andrew Conway and CJ Stander doing the rest of the damage.

Owen Williams' first-half try was all the Blues really had to celebrate as they were simply blown away after the break, conceding 35 unanswered points in the second half.

Hanrahan got Munster going after four minutes with a routine penalty after the Blues were penalised for not rolling away but Davies responded with three points of his own just three minutes later.

Kilcoyne bagged the game's first try on 11 minutes, the No.8 taking the ball over the line after a great charge from James Coughlan following a lineout, Hanrahan adding the extras.

However Cardiff dramatically drew level a minute later with a try from Williams, Davies with the conversion for 10-10 in an exciting opening quarter-of-an-hour.

Hanrahan and Davies then reassumed their kicking duel as the Munster flyhalf added two further penalties to the Welshman's one, 16-13.

And with the last action of the half a neat flick from Denis Hurley found the returning Zebo, who in turn earned Munster a penalty which Hanrahan slotted over for a 19-13 half-time lead.

After the break though the PRO12 leaders went up a gear and although the Blues defence managed to stop Munster just short of the line on 53 minutes, they weren't so successful on the hour.

Munster exerted some real pressure on the Cardiff line and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty try on 61 minutes with Patrick Palmer having been sent to the sin bin just beforehand.

A great burst from James Cronin then led to Zebo going over for Munster's third try of the game, Hanrahan continuing his excellent work from the tee to take the score onto 33-13.

Rob Penney's men then had their bonus point as Van den Heever marked his first appearance at Thomond Park with a try, Hanrahan maintaining his 100 percent success rate with the extras.

There was still time for Munster to add a fifth however as replacement Conway got in on the act, the TMO confirming the grounding.

And with the last action of the game they had their sixth score through Stander, rounding off a resounding display that justifies their current position at the top.

The scorers:

For Munster:

Tries: Kilcoyne, Penalty Try, Zebo, Van den Heever, Conway, Stander

Cons: Hanrahan 6

Pens: Hanrahan 4

For Blues:

Try: OR Williams

Con: G Davies

Pen: G Davies

Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 James Coughlan (captain), 7 Barry O'Mahony, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Dave Foley, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Ger Slattery, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Sean Dougall, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Andrew Conway.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Owen Williams, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Chris Dicomidis, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Sam Hobbs (captain).

Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Patrick Palmer, 19 James Down, 20 Luke Hamilton, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Simon Humberstone, 23 Isaia Tuifua.

Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)

Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)

Treviso 41-33 Scarlets

Scarlets survived a late Italian fightback to claim a 41-33 bonus-point win and condemn Treviso to back-to-back PRO12 defeats.

Frazier Climo grabbed a first-half double but the boot of Treviso fullback Mat Berquist regularly kept Scarlets in check.

Kirby Myhill, Gareth Davies and Kristian Phillips also dotted down as the Welsh side dominated proceedings early on, but second-half scores for Robert Barbieri, Meyer Swanepoel and Ludovico Nitoglia ensured a nervy finish.

However, Jordan Williams' late score spared Scarlets' blushes and ended a run of four straight PRO12 defeats for Simon Easterby's side.

The hosts made an encouraging start to the clash but Scarlets were resolute inside their own 22 and fought back by taking the ball into the Treviso half in-hand.

And they were rewarded with a penalty, which Aled Thomas sent between the posts to open up and early lead – but he sent a second effort from the tee narrowly wide five minutes later.

It was then Scarlets' turn to win a kickable penalty and Berquist gratefully accepted the opportunity to level the scores, only for the Welsh province to strike a crushing blow shortly after.

The Welsh pack powered over the line from close range and Myhill was on hand to touch down after 23 minutes, but the score went unconverted and a second Berquist penalty undid much of the hard work.

Scarlets' second try soon followed, four minutes before the break, when Climo crossed the whitewash to give his side the upper hand once more.

But a second conversion went begging and Berquist slotted his third penalty to send Treviso into half-time trailing by just four points.

With Easterby's half-time words still ringing in their ears, the visitors flew out the blocks and grabbed a third try – Climo's second of the afternoon.

The winger produced a smart piece of skill to cross over and Thomas converted, at the third attempt, to send Scarlets into their healthiest lead of the tie so far.

It was a familiar story as Berquist took just four minutes to peg them back from the tee but a fourth try, and bonus point to boot, had Scarlets on the home straight.

Phillips and Gareth Davies combined in a neat build-up for the latter to score, despite referee Lloyd Linton sending the final decision upstairs to the TMO.

Marius Goosen's side finally began to hit their straps and enjoyed much of the possession and territory for the next ten minutes, but they found a resilient back line in their path.

However, the Italians finally grabbed their first try on the hour mark through Barbieri, only for Phillips to hit back minutes later with a try of his own, after a powerful run and offload from Gareth Owen.

Victory may have looked unlikely but the hosts refused to quit and they soon had a second try, courtesy of replacement Swanepoel 11 minutes from time, and Berquist added the extras to make it 34-26.

Scarlets were given cause to panic after 74 minutes when, after consulting the TMO awarded Nitoglia the eighth try of the game, with Berquist bringing Treviso within one point.

But their nerves were calmed four minutes later when, after another TMO referral, Williams showed great composure to put the game to bed, Thomas securing it with the conversion.

The scorers:

For Treviso:

Tries: Barbieri, Swanepoel, Nitoglia

Cons: Berquist 3

Pens: Berquist 4

For Scarlets:

Tries: Penalty Try, Climo 2, G Davies, K Phillips, Williams

Cons: Thomas 4

Pen: Thomas

Treviso: 15 Mat Berquist, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Andrea Pratichetti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Brendan Williams, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Marco Filippucci, 7 Paul Derbyshire, 6 Christian Loamanu, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Valerio Bernabò (captain), 3 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Matteo Muccignat.

Replacements: 16 Enrico Ceccato, 17 Giovanni Maistri, 18 Pedro Di Santo, 19 Meyer Swanepoel, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Jacopo Sarto, 22 James Ambrosini, 23 Enrico Bacchin.

Scarlets: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Frazier Climo, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Rob McCusker (captain), 7 John Barclay, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Richard Kelly, 4 George Earle, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Johan Snyman, 20 Lewis Rawlins, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Josh Lewis, 23 Gareth Owen.

Referee: Lloyd Linton (Wales)

Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Stefano Traversi (Italy)

TMO: Alan Falzone (Italy)