Munster (20) 35
Tries: Dowling, Varley, Warwick, de Villiers Cons: O'Gara (2), Warwick
Pens: O'Gara (2), Warwick
Connacht (3) 3
Pen: Keatley

Winger Ian Dowling scores the first try for Munster

A last-minute try by Jean de Villiers secured a bonus point win for Munster over Connacht in the Magners League.

The current champions were always in command and tries from winger Ian Dowling and hooker Damien Varley had them 20-3 ahead at the interval.

Early replacement Paul Warwick ran onto his own kick for the third try before South African centre de Villiers powered over to earn the extra point.

Captain Ronan O'Gara kicked four out of four before going off at half-time.

O'Gara and Denis Hurley were the only survivors from the Munster team that beat Perpignan in the Heineken Cup six days earlier.

Munster soon gained control early on with O'Gara's penalty the first score in the 10th minute.

The opening try came in the 21st minute when a sweeping move out to the right ended with Warwick's long pass setting up Dowling to go over in the right corner.

O'Gara landed a tremendous touchline conversion and followed that with a penalty for 13-0.

Stand-in skipper O'Gara refused a shot at the posts in favour of a punt to touch, leading to a line-out catch and drive which saw Varley being heaved over the line.

With sleet falling, O'Gara added the extras and Connacht's night worsened when they lost winger Troy Nathan to the sin-bin for an ill-timed tackle on Warwick.

However, Ian Keatley got the visitors on the scoreboard with the last kick of the half from a straightforward penalty.

Warwick, taking over the kicking duties from O'Gara, drilled a penalty over into a stiff wind to extend Munster's lead to 23-3.

The third try came in the 71st minute when Warwick chipped over the top and just won the race to score, adding the conversion himself.

De Villiers powered his way over the line on a 20-metre burst right at the end.

Munster: Jones, D. Hurley, Gleeson, de Villiers, Dowling, O'Gara, Stringer, Brugnaut, Varley, Buckley, O'Driscoll, D. Ryan, Holland, Ronan, N. Williams.
Replacements: Warwick for Jones (16), Deasy for O'Gara (41), D. Williams for Stringer (73), Sherry for Varley (77), O'Donnell for Holland (64), Coughlan for N. Williams (64).

Connacht: Duffy, Nathan, Ta'auso, Matthews, Bibo, Nikora, O'Loughlin, Wilkinson, Flavin, Hagan, Swift, Upton, McComish, O'Connor, Naoupu.
Replacements: Keatley for Nikora (38), Campbell for O'Loughlin (66), Loughney for Wilkinson (41), D. Murphy for Flavin (50), Browne for Upton (41).

Attendance: 20,000

Referee: Dean Keane (Ireland)

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