Celtic League/Munster - 49 Cardiff - 18: It was a curious affair. Munster floundered for much of the opening half, predictable and ponderous, slavishly adhering to a kick-and-chase philosophy only to return from their interval libations steely-eyed and focused, complete with a new playbook. In the end their dominance was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.
The main difference between the teams for much of Saturday evening's Celtic League match was that Munster, or more accurately Ronan O'Gara, kept the scoreboard ticking over even though the home side were struggling to get a foothold in the match.
Cardiff, in contrast, dominated for long periods of the opening half but despite scoring two tries didn't really manage a commensurate return for their territorial ascendancy. The Welsh side's discipline was also an Achilles heel. They gave away far too many penalties especially against a place-kicker like O'Gara, who landed his first seven opportunities.
The Ireland outhalf proved the game's pivotal performer. He may have missed touch on a few occasions when playing into the wind but when it mattered O'Gara delivered. Christian Cullen won another man-of-the-match accolade and there was much to admire in his general performance, capped by an outrageous 35-metre drop goal on the run, but his brace of tries - it takes his tally to eight in the Celtic League - came from O'Gara's slide-rule grubber kicks.
The first, on 27 minutes shouldn't have been awarded, television showing that Cullen lost control as he contested O'Gara's chip over the line. There was no doubt about the second, the former All Black fullback calling the option and his outhalf delivering with precision. A blossoming understanding between the two augurs well for Heineken European Cup fare.
O'Gara was foot-perfect after the interval - two missed touchline conversions aside - driving Cardiff back with probing kicks and mixing his game to greater effect. He was helped by the performance of the pack, notably Jim Williams, Paul O'Connell, Anthony Foley and a fast-improving Trevor Hogan.
Getting ball on the front foot also allowed Rob Henderson to have a greater impact on proceedings, a relief no doubt after the dross he had to mop up before the interval.
Coach Alan Gaffney enthused: "I was very pleased to get Hendo (Rob Henderson) into the game more in the second half. It hadn't developed for him in the first half."
Gaffney was less enamoured of the team's first-half performance.
"We made a lot of errors, coughed up too much ball. Whether we should have kicked away that much ball was debatable, though the swirling wind made conditions very difficult.
"At half-time we made a decision to keep the ball more in hand. Prior to the match we had set out to score four tries and win by 20 points and achieved that in the end. When we kept ball in hand we had more control over the game. I thought Ronan (O'Gara) controlled the game well.
"We did feel we owed Cardiff something for the 60 points they put on us (last April) - not in a malicious way but we wanted to make our own point."
Cardiff were physical, and aggressive defensively, but travelled with a third-choice outhalf, who offered only a kicking game, and a fourth- choice tighthead. As the game progressed the obduracy they showed in the opening 50 minutes began to evaporate into the misting rain that shrouded Thomond Park.
Munster certainly fluffed their lines initially, with a knock-on almost from the kick-off, two turnovers at lineouts, and the concession of a try after just four minutes. Craig Quinnell's physique bounced a defender on his four-yard lumber, a try improved upon by outhalf Lee Thomas.
O'Gara kicked a penalty before the home side imploded once again, Peter Stringer's attempted box kick from close to his own line blocked down and regathered by Cardiff number eight Kort Schubert.
At 12-3 down Munster were looking ragged but a high tackle by Lee Thomas on Shaun Payne raised the dander. Paul O'Connell and Marcus Horan took umbrage, the former indulging in some WWF grappling and sledging with Gethin Jenkins. Referee David Changleng initially signalled for a knock-on but on the intervention of a touch judge brought play back for the high tackle. The Scottish official had that sort of match. O'Gara kicked the penalty, Cullen snaffled a try that shouldn't have been awarded and suddenly the home side had nudged in front, 13-12. O'Gara outscored Lee Thomas two-one in penalties as the half petered out.
Payne's failure to re-emerge after the interval was attributed to the high tackle and a bang in the ribs. Gaffney pointed out that his player wasn't concussed but did admit to him being "away with the fairies" for a while. Paul Devlin was introduced on the right wing - the excellent John Kelly shifted to centre - and would score his first try for Munster with his second touch.
At that stage the home side led 29-18, O'Gara kicking a penalty and converting a try by the hard- working Williams.
Devlin's try was the product of some good handling by Denis Leamy, Kelly and Cullen from a quickly taken penalty. The latter's second try on 60 minutes ensured the bonus point and allowed Munster to coast to the finishing line, emptying the bench in the process.
As Gaffney observed: "We have taken little steps along the way, week by week. We did do certain things that we set out to achieve tonight."
They are far from the finished product, indeed last year's model was infinitely superior, but the scope is undoubtedly there.
Harlequins shouldn't provide too many difficulties for Munster and represent an ideal opener for tougher European Cup assignments. Alan Quinlan demonstrated in his 20-minute cameo that backrow places haven't necessarily been nailed down, while the composition of the Munster midfield will require some debate after Henderson's second-half display.
Hogan has thrived under the responsibility of replacing the injured Donncha O'Callaghan, the latter's participation next Saturday far from guaranteed.
For Munster it's about producing the sort of quality they managed in the second half for longer periods. Harlequins should allow them the latitude to maintain their steady progress.
Scoring sequence: 4 mins: Quinnell try, L Thomas conversion, 0-7; 9: O'Gara penalty, 3-7; 14: Schubert try, 3-12; 21: O'Gara penalty, 6-12; 27: Cullen try, O'Gara conversion, 13-12; 30: L Thomas penalty, 13-15; 32: O'Gara penalty, 16-15; 40 (+1): O'Gara penalty, 19-15. Half-time: 19-15. 42: O'Gara penalty, 22-15; 44: Williams try, O'Gara conversion, 29-15; 50: L Thomas penalty, 29-18; 53: Devlin try, 34-18; 60: Cullen try, 39-18; 68: Cullen drop goal, 42-18; 77: Henderson try, Burke conversion, 49-18.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, T Hogan, P O'Connell, J Williams, A Foley (capt), D Leamy. Replacements: J Flannery for Sheahan (22-30 mins); P Devlin for Payne (h-t); A Quinlan for Williams (65 mins); P Burke for O'Gara (69 mins); T Bowman for O'Connell; Flannery for Sheahan (both 74 mins); G McIlwham for Hayes (76 mins); M Prendergast for Henderson (77 mins).
CARDIFF: C Morgan; J Vaughton, R Williams, T Shanklin, F Tuilagi; L Thomas, D Dewdney; G Jenkins, G Williams, M Jones, C Quinnell, R Sidoli, N Thomas, K Schubert, M Williams (capt). Replacements: A Lewis for Jones (64 mins); R Smith for Dewdney (68 mins); D Jones for Quinnell (70 mins); N Budgett for N Thomas (72 mins); R Thomas for G Williams (79 mins).
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland).
