Munster celebrate going top as Donncha O’Callaghan celebrates a record 241st cap

Munster 36 (Tries: Zebo (2), Slattery (2), O'Donnell. Cons: Hanrahan 1, Keatley 3. Pen: Hanrahan), Zebre 8 (Try: D'Apice. Pen: Palazzani)

Munster returned to the top of the RaboDirect Pro12 standings thanks to a second bonus-point win in a week on a night that Donncha O'Callaghan picked up a record 241st cap for the province.

Simon Zebo claimed his third try in seven days to indicate to Joe Schmidt that he was ready to return to the international squad, while Donnacha Ryan also put his hand up for inclusion with a positive return from injury.

Munster now look certain to make an immediate move for an experienced hooker after Duncan Casey limped off with a dead leg, to join Mike Sherry, Damien Varley and Niall Scannell on the creaking treatment table.

But once the Musgrave Park crowd watched Munster seal all five points with two tries from both Zebo and Ger Slattery and another from Tommy O’Donnell, they lined up to thank O’Callaghan for his dedication to the red shirt. He was amazed by the reception, he said.

“When I made my debut I came on with my brother, so Munster means everything to me and to my family. I think Munster’s in my DNA.

“I’ve taken on the values and I think I’ve brought it into my life a bit more. I am huge thankful, I honestly am. I get to tog out with a group of lads that I love and a team that means everything to me,” he said.

"I thought I had annoyed enough people over the years, but I'm playing for a team I love in front of your family and you look at the crowd and it's the same faces that you'd have seen 15 or 16 years ago. You just kinda feel a tight bond around the place and that's special for me. I'm blessed to be able to play for a team that I care so much about and other people do too," said O'Callaghan.

Only sadness
The only sadness that tinged Donncha O'Callaghan's occasion was the fact that he had to enter the fray earlier than expected to replace the badly injured Dave O'Callaghan – his knee injury "didn't look good", said Rob Penney. But the Munster coach was delighted with the reception rolled out for Donncha O'Callaghan and he paid tribute to the big lock, whom, he says, is "not going to stop".

“Yeah, massive night for him and he played a robust, passionate game as he always delivers. It was just fantastic,” said Penney. “I was just talking with his family there on the touchline, (his) cousins and wider family were all there to celebrate with the big guy and they all got a photo with him and his jersey. It’s just such a special time for him and the O’Callaghan family.

“It’s a great tribute to him and he’s going to make it very difficult for the person who’s going to succeed him. It’s not going to stop anywhere near that (241); it’s going to be well past that, so yeah it’s going to take something a bit special to get near him,” said Penney.

Apart from a stuttering third quarter, Munster will be thrilled with their performance on Saturday. Zebo’s two tries gave them a 15-5 lead at the break after Tomasso D’Apice’s early try threatened to spoil the party, while Tommy O’Donnell and two more from replacement hooker Ger Slattery gave a suitable sheen to the scoreboard.

While outhalf JJ Hanrahan looked a little off colour when kicking for touch, his partnership with Ian Keatley in the centre was a real eye-catcher, as Munster fans got another glimpse at what the future might hold.

MUNSTER: F Jones; G van den Heever, J Murphy, I Keatley, S Zebo; JJ Hanrahan, C Sheridan; J Cronin, D Casey, BJ Botha; D Ryan, B Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, T O'Donnell, CJ Stander. Replacements: Donncha O'Callaghan for Dave O'Callaghan (18 mins), G Slattery for Casey (50 mins), D Williams for Sheridan (60 mins), D Hurley for Hanrahan (60 mins), J Ryan for Botha (63 mins), A Conway for Jones (65 mins), D Kilcoyne for Cronin (68 mins), S Dougall for Ryan (68 mins).
ZEBRE: D Berryman; D Odiete, K Ratuvou, R Quartaroli, G Venditti; G Palazzani, B Leonard; A De Marchi, R D'Apice, D Chistolini; M Van Vuren, G Biagi; F Cristiano, A Van Schalkwyk, S Vunisa. Replacements: D Ryan for De Marchi (50 mins), L Leibson for Chistolini (53 mins), N Cattina for Cristiano (55 mins), E Caffini for Biagi (56 mins), L Giovanchelli for D'Apice (58 mins), G Bisegni for Odiete (72 mins).
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU).