Munster 64 Viadana 0
Munster boosted their Heineken Cup try count in Cork tonight, crossing the line nine times against Pool 2 whipping boys Viadana at Musgrave Park.
In a tight group alongside Gloucester and Perpignan, last year's losing finalists banked some vital insurance cover should the pool finish tied on points with four tries in each half plus a second half penalty try against the Italians.
Munster signalled their intentions early when captain Jim Williams ordered a kick to the corner in the second minute when Ronan O'Gara could easily have kicked for points.
The choice proved spot on as Munster scored from their attacking position, the home pack sending number eight Anthony Foley over for a try before O'Gara's conversion went over via an upright.
The Irish fly-half opted for three points with his next opportunity, pushing the score to 10-0 in the 11th minute with a penalty struck from eight metres inside the Viadana half.
By the 13th minute the game was shaping up for a Munster rout as Foley broke the Viadana line on the right wing and passed outside to Anthony Horgan.
Winger Horgan, making his first Munster appearance of the season following shoulder surgery at the start of the season, took no time at all in reacquainting himself with the try line as he rounded the last man to touch down. O'Gara missed the conversion under pressure from Italian players but Munster were 15-0 in front after as many minutes.
Matters grew more depressing for Viadana in the 22nd minute when second row Fabio Gumiero was sent to the sin bin for what appeared to be dissent towards Welsh referee Hugh Watkins.
O'Gara kicked for the corner and hooker Frankie Sheahan collected his own line-out ball to crash over the line for Munster's third try, which O'Gara converted from the left touchline to put the Irish side 22-0 ahead.
With Viadana still down to 14 men, Munster scored again, this time lock Paul O'Connell piercing the gap created by midfield battering ram Jason Holland and touching down next to the posts, for O'Gara to send over a simple conversion.
With Gumiero back on, Viadana were able to offer some more spirited defence and they finished the half 29-0 down but cheered at having kept a stronger Munster pack at bay in the closing minutes.
Munster needing just three minutes of the second half to breach the Viadana line, this time with Foley popping up in open play on the left to touch down for his second try of the night, which O'Gara again converted.
Referee Watkins was to the fore again in the 58th minute when he awarded a penalty try against Viadana after the Munster pack were illegally prevented from going over in the corner, and O'Gara's conversion from in front of the posts sent the score to 43-0.
O'Gara added his name to the try count in the 64th minute when he raced under the posts for a try having been set up following a surging break from flanker Alan Quinlan.
It was O'Gara's conversion that brought up the half century without reply.
Holland added to the Italian misery with a converted try in the 76th minute before replacement Mike Prendergast completed the rout with his side's ninth try of the game in injury time.