Edinburgh 15 Munster 20:MUNSTER MAINTAINED their impressive unbeaten record at Murrayfield last night to open their Magners League campaign in winning style.
This was an encouraging display from the European Cup champions who out-muscled Edinburgh with a dominant performance from their pack as skipper Paul O'Connell led from the front.
Behind the scrum Munster were also on top with sharp midfield running and excellent work in the back three where Keith Earls caught the eye on several occasions. The result was Munster finished 2-0 ahead in the try count whereas Edinburgh had to rely on the boot of winger Chris Paterson for all their points.
Munster will be satisfied that they maximised their scoring chances, only one opportunity going adrift. As always Ronan O'Gara played his part in the visitors' victory, the Ireland outhalf dictating the territorial game with astute kicking and contributing ten points despite missing three shots at the posts.
Despite an early concession of three points from a penalty by Paterson in the opening minute, Munster dominated in the opening quarter.
The dividend, however, barely reflected Munster's early pressure albeit the score exuded quality, coming as it did from powerful pick-and-drive play and then swift transfer of the ball along the line resulting in a try for Earls.
O'Gara added the conversion but then missed a much easier penalty attempt to allow Edinburgh breathing space. Having survived this scare, Edinburgh found their form to force Munster back on their heels and Paterson kicked his second penalty of the match.
At the other end, O'Gara was again wide with a long-range attempt at goal but some clever football from the in-form Earls brought Munster back on to the attack. The raid produced further points as Paul O'Connell appearing in midfield prised open a half gap but it was Doug Howlett's running that produced the score for David Wallace, converted from the touchline by O'Gara.
A third Paterson penalty was immediately cancelled out by a similar effort from O'Gara before Munster suffered a setback with the sin-binning of prop Marcus Horan as half-time approached.
Edinburgh, however, were unable to profit from their one-man advantage but almost immediately after the return of Horan the home side spread panic in the Munster defence with a clever kick taken over the line by Nick De Luca but the effort, after consultation with the television match official, was ruled out.
A penalty apiece by Paterson and O'Gara maintained the gap before Munster again turned the screw with a period of sustained pressure that all but produced a try for O'Connell only for the Munster skipper to knock the ball forward with the line at his mercy.
Edinburgh had a late chance to claim a try when David Callam burst through a gap but his offload to Paterson was expensively delayed. A further chance fell to Edinburgh and this time Paterson goaled for a losing bonus point but despite late pressure they were unable to break down the resolute Munster defence.
EDINBURGH:H Southwell; C Paterson, C MacRae, N De Luca, M Robertson (A Turnbull 56); P Godman, M Blair (captain); A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, C Hamilton, B Gissing, M Mustchin, A MacDonald (D Callum 29), A Hogg
MUNSTER:D Howlett; K Earls, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara (P Warwick 64), T O'Leary (P Stringer 60); M Horan, J Flannery (F Sheahan 64), F Pucciarello (T Buckley 56), D O'Callaghan (M O'Drisoll 60), P O'Connell (captain), D Ryan (J Melck 70), J O'Sullivan, D Wallace
RefereeJ Jones (Wales).
