Simon Zebo earns Munster bonus point in win over Treviso
Simon Zebo's try completed a comfortable Munster win
©PA
Simon Zebo scored a late try to secure a bonus point for Munster as they beat Benetton Treviso 32-7 at Thomond Park in their opening European Rugby Champions Cup game.
REACTION - Munster head coach Anthony Foley
"We got four tries and came away with the five points. We came away with a couple of bangs and knocks too. We gave up four or five penalties in 80 minutes in those conditions and I think the last two were on set piece.
"It was an impressive display by the players and it shows a good attitude, good work-rate and a willingness to put their shoulder to the wheel. It was great to see.
"The (wet and windy) conditions were unbelievable out there. It was very hard for both sides to play the game. I thought it was the best we have played in those conditions, the way we controlled the first half.
"It was seldom they got into our 22 and I thought it was well marshalled by our nine and ten (Conor Murray and Ian Keatley).
"Obviously, there was a hefty workload put in by the forward pack in the first half in terms of keeping the ball, trying to move it up the pitch through the maul and running hard off nine.
"For the boys to get five points and four tries, you take your hat off to them. We play Treviso a lot. We are going to play them four times this year. We know how physically strong they are. They have (Edoardo) Gori, (Jayden) Hayward, (Luke) McLean, all top quality players and that is outside the monster of a pack they have."
A lacklustre first half ended with Munster 10-7 ahead after BJ Botha burrowed over in the fourth minute and fellow South African Braam Steyn replied with a solo score 10 minutes later.
In wet and windy conditions, Munster went on to wear down Treviso's resolute defence in the third quarter with Ian Keatley landing a second penalty and captain CJ Stander scoring his fourth try of the season.
Replacement hooker Duncan Casey and finally Zebo both crossed on the left either side of a yellow card for Treviso's Matteo Muccignat.
Zebo's touchdown was his 40th for Munster, leaving him one short of equallying the record of Anthony Horgan.
The home side started quickly, and Donnacha Ryan won a lineout on the 22-metre line set up a maul, from which Conor Murray sniped to set up Botha, who escaped the attempted tackle of James Ambrosini to score.
Keatley converted the score and in the eighth minute, Botha almost scored again only for video replays to show he had lost control of the ball.
Treviso gained a foothold in the game with their number eight Steyn leading the way, charging down a Keatley kick, dribbling through with the ball and then acrobatically completing the score, which Jayden Haryward converted to level the scores.
Keatley partially redeemed himself three minutes later with a penalty that was the final score in a half marked by errors in difficult conditions.
Treviso lost captain Alessandro Zanni to concussion and Munster's Mike Sherry injured a knee, cutting short the Ireland-capped hooker's first European appearance in more than two years.
Conditions got worse in the second half but Munster extended their lead. Keatley landed a penalty in the 48th minute and Stander then scored an unconverted try seven minutes later.
The direct route worked for Munster as they touched down for a third time through Casey after Ryan had won a lineout in the left corner. Keatley converted and soon after Muccignat was sin-binned for not rolling away.
Zebo added the finishing touch barely one minute later and Keatley added the extras.
