Munster 29-3 Zebre, RaboDirect Pro12
Hanrahan stars in Munster win
ESPN Staff
October 26, 2012
Report Match details
Date/Time: Oct 26, 2012, 19:45 local, 18:45 GMT
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Munster 29 - 3 Zebre
Half-time: 3 - 3
Tries: Hanrahan 2, Jones, O'Dea
Cons: Keatley 3
Pens: Keatley
Pens: Halangahu
Munster's Felix Jones stretches the Harlequins defence, Munster v Harlequins, Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final, Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland, April 30, 2011
Felix Jones scored one of Munster's four tries
© Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12
Teams: Munster | Zebre

JJ Hanrahan marked his first start for Munster with two tries and a man-of-the-match display as they beat Zebre 29-3 at Thomond Park on Friday.

An uninspiring first half produced just six points, with Ian Keatley and Zebre's Australian centre Daniel Halangahu striking a single penalty apiece. But Munster found an extra gear or two after that, inviting Hanrahan, twice, and Felix Jones through for tries and Luke O'Dea dotted down for a 76th-minute bonus-point score.

It was a penalty-riddled start to proceedings in Limerick. The Italians settled quickly, although their captain Gonzalo Garcia skewed a penalty from his own half well wide.

Munster took a quarter of an hour to get within striking distance and Keatley drew his first penalty attempt wide in the 18th minute. Taking Casey Laulala out of the equation, the Munster back-line had an average age of 23 with Laulala's centre partner Hanrahan (20) making his full debut, while stand-in captain Peter O'Mahony led a back row averaging 22.

Munster No.8 Paddy Butler was guilty of obstruction off the back of a scrum but Halangahu was unable to convert the resulting kick from the left. Zebre, with their heavy pack putting their weight about, went off their feet at a central ruck in the 26th minute, allowing Keatley to kick the hosts ahead.

However, both sides struggled to retain possession and build attacks with referee Neil Hennessy eager to keep on top of a messy breakdown and scrum. Halangahu had the final say before half-time, splitting the posts with his first successful kick after the Italians put pressure on in the scrum.

Five-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Munster finally unlocked the Zebre defence. Hanrahan backed himself, darting through a gap on the right and getting past Luca Martinelli near the line for a well-taken try. Keatley converted and just before the hour mark, Jones jinked past four defenders on a eye-catching surge to the whitewash which will have pleased watching Ireland boss Declan Kidney.

With Rob Kearney sidelined through injury, the fit-again Jones looks set to earn a call-up in the coming days for Ireland's November internationals. The full-back's 56th-minute try was converted by Keatley who supplied the assist and the extras for Hanrahan's second, as the Kerry youngster gobbled up a teasing grubber from the No.10.

With Zebre tiring and Munster finding holes out wide, O'Dea and Jones threatened again before Laulala drew a couple of defenders and passed for O'Dea to finish off the night's scoring in the right corner.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.