Updated at 00.05
Munster 31
Zebre 5
SIMON ZEBO CLAIMED a first-half hat-trick of tries as Munster secured a comfortable bonus-point 31-5 victory over Zebre at Thomond Park in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash.
The Irish side effectively had ended the game as a contest by half-time, with Anthony Foley’s men surging into a 17-0 lead going in at the break.
Additional tries by Andrew Smith and Dave Kilcoyne wrapped up an easy victory, with Zebo turning creator in the former instance, before Samuela Vunisa grabbed a consolation late on for the Italians.
Munster welcomed back stars Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray, both of whom came through the game unscathed, while Anthony Foley will be relieved to have secured his first home win since taking charge as coach.
Munster scorers:
Tries: Zebo [3], Smith, Kilcoyne.
Conversions: Hanrahan [3]
Zebre scorers:
Tries: Vunisa
Munster: Jones, R. O’Mahony, Smith, D. Hurley (J Murphy 67), Zebo, J Holland (Hanrahan 23), Murray (Williams 66), Cronin (Kilcoyne 57), Casey (O’Byrne 50), Botha (J Ryan 57), B. Holland, O’Connell, Butler, O’Donnell (D O’Callaghan 71), Copeland (O’Donoghue 57).
Zebre: Daniller; Odiete, Bisegni, Haimona, Toniolatti; Padovani (Garcia 60), Palazzani (Chillon 49); Lovotti (Manici 76), De Marchi, Leibson (Chistolini 60); Geldenhuys, Biagi; M Bergamasco (Bisegni 49), Cristiano, Vunisa.
Replacements not used: Fabiani, Bernabo, Ferreira.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)