Munster will make their way to South Africa off the back of a ten-try hammering of Dragons that saw them move to third in the United Rugby Championship table.
Once coach Johann van Graan gets a clean bill of health he will declare himself happy with what occurred at Thomond Park, but it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Munster have had harder training sessions, such was the dismal and disinterested effort from the visitors.
With just one win from their nine games before tonight, the Dragons were one off the bottom on the standings and their record of eight straight losses to Munster never looked like coming to an end.
Munster fly to South Africa tomorrow to play the rescheduled fixtures against the Vodacom Bulls and the Emirates Lions that fell foul to the Omicron outbreak last December.
Dragons also fly south for their next games but they were already on the plane, in mind at least, based on this performance where they accumulated 33 missed tackles.
The hosts could really do nothing about the attitude of the Welsh outfit bar punish on the scoreboard and that’s exactly what they did, with their ten tries equalling their previous record.
"I thought it was a very good performance," Van Graan told TG4.
"Structure very good, scored some nice tries, the fact that we didn't concede a try, I thought our kicking game was good.
"At half-time we said we wanted to keep up the intensity for 80 minutes and we did that tonight."
"It was important to get a good win before we go on tour."
🦌 @CraigCasey9 strikes first and puts @Munsterrugby ahead 🙌#URC | #MUNvDRA pic.twitter.com/QDzY9VwGGl
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 5, 2022
Ireland international scrum-half Craig Casey, who was released from Six Nations training camp to play this weekend, got the scoring under way, jinking over from close range in the ninth minute.
The 22-year-old doubled his tally 13 minutes later, sniping over from the base of a ruck to hit back after Sam Davies had kicked a penalty that proved to be the only Dragons' only score.
Straight from the restart man of the match Chris Farrell and Mike Haley combined to break the line before sending captain Jack O’Donoghue free to coast home.
🦌 Jack O'Donoghue finishes one of @Munsterrugby's best plays of this season 😱#URC | #MUNvDRA pic.twitter.com/0Q0KkmuY0u
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 5, 2022
Chris Cloete wrapped up the bonus point three minutes before the break with a score in the corner and Jack Crowley landed his fourth conversion to hand a hosts a 28-3 lead at half-time.
The start of the second half was scrappy and it took until the 52nd minute for the 2011 champions to extend their lead.
Dean Ryan’s defence went to sleep as Casey tapped a quick penalty close to the line before sending Simon Zebo over. The Ireland wing could have stopped for a cup of tea if he was that way inclined, such was the time he was afforded.
Attack is the best defence 👌@Munsterrugby need less than 1️⃣ minute to score#URC | #MUNvDRA pic.twitter.com/uXUS81wjHV
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 5, 2022
Chris Farrell got in on the act soon after when Haley claimed a short Dragon’s restart before breaking the line and passing to the Ireland centre who outpaced two defenders.
Full-back Haley was again the provider for Munster’s next score, with Shane Daly on hand to dot down.
Niall Scannell was held up over the line before South African flanker Cloete grabbed his second with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Replacement John Hodnett ran in under the posts from Rory Scannell’s inside pass before O’Donoghue completed the try-scoring; Ben Healy added his second conversion of the night to bring Dragons nightmare to an end.
"We were played off the park," said a dejected Ryan.
"I don't think the last 40 minutes is representative of what we are trying to do or what we are trying to be and we have to ask some hard questions about that because we didn’t make it hard enough.
"Blown off the park, no excuses."
Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Chris Cloete, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.
Dragons: Jordan Williams; Will Talbot-Davies, Jack Dixon, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams; Greg Bateman, Taylor Davies, Chris Coleman; Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw; Harri Keddie (capt), Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, Ben Fry, Dan Baker, Lewis Jones, Josh Lewis
