WATCH: Much improved Munster claim bonus point win against Connacht in Pro14 clash.

Munster endured a poor start, conceding an early penalty which presented Jack Carty with a chance to make it 3-0 which he duly accepted.

Cé a bheidh mar Laoch na hImearta duitse anocht?
Thoughts on who'll be man of the match?#Pro14 #MUNvCON@Munsterrugby @connachtrugby pic.twitter.com/hw18ERiUlU

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 6, 2018

Indeed it go worse before it got better as Munster were again struggle with discipline with a rising penalty count not helped by some uncharacteristic back chat from Andrew Conway that David Wilkinson punished with ten metres.

If the first ten minutes were tough watching from a Munster point of view, the next ten saw Johann van Graan’s side slowly edge there way back into the game.

A clever Simon Zebo grubber kick saw the Connacht player ushered into touch and from their first real attacking platform, Chris Farrell made good yards through the Connacht defence.

From the resultant ruck, Conor Oliver acting as scrum half found Darren O’Shea coming at pace to crash over for the first try of the game with Keatley adding the conversion to make it 7-3.

https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/949735691222732800

It only took Connacht five minutes to respond as Chris Farrell was penalised for not releasing in the tackle before going back in for the ball. It looked very much a case of a player and a team who were desperately trying to put the last two weeks behind them and looking to force the issue. Regardless, Carty slotted the kick to make it 7-6.

A blown Connacht lineout allowed Munster behind gain a foothold in their twenty-two before Wilkinson this time penalised the men in green for killing the ball illegally. Kealtey kicked the penalty to make it 10-6 on the half hour.

Munster would get another chance with the clock in the red at the end of the first half. A penalty for a high tackle was dispatched to touch the lineout maul was a mess and CJ Stander was uncharacteristically ripped of the ball as Munster looked to reset their maul. Carty cleared his lines and Munster took a 10-6 lead into the break.

https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/949740338230554624

The opening ten minutes of the second half did little to excite the crowd as both sides traded attacking efforts with nothing to show on the scoreboard. That was until the 50^th minute when Ian Keatley added a penalty as Connacht were penalised in the ruck. Munster now led 13-6 and were slowly starting to assert some tentative control over the game.

From the ensuing kick off Keith Earls did his best to ignite the crowd with a blistering run that cut deep into Connacht territory. Munster earned a scrum having forced a knock on.

The would get their second try of the night moments later when Ian Keatley dinked a sublime grubber kick through that deceived Tiernan O’Halloran and bounce kindly for the advancing Andrew Conway to dot down for the try. Keatley landed the conversion from way out wide to push Munster out to a 20-6 lead.

Connacht were now starting to lag and with a scrum five metres from touch on the ten metre line. In a slight change up, Murray found Scannell at first receiver who laid the ball back to Keatley.

A beautiful dummy line from Farrell opened up a gap that Keatley scurried through before offloading to Conway who spun the ball wide left to Keith Earls who crossed for the try of the evening. Keatley missed the extras but Munster now held a commanding 25-6 lead and were chasing a much needed bonus point.

It didn’t take long from Munster to collect the bonus point as Quin Roux was binned for a tip tackle on Earls. Munster kicked for touch, hit Darren O’Shea at four before going trough the phases.

Conor Murray would eventually burrow over for the bonus point score from close range with Keatley adding the extras to stretch the lead to 32-6.

https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/949753507829166080

Munster were now relentless and looking like a side that wanted to make up for the below par performances of the last two weeks. Having once more established possession deep in Connacht territory, Conor Murray was again to the fore to snipe through from close range for his second of the evening. Keatley made it 39-6 with the conversion.

The game was over as a contest but Connacht would restore some pride when Tom McCartney crossed for a 77th minute try which Ronaldson converted to make cut the deficit to 33-13.

.@connachtrugby​ leave it until the dying minutes to get a try and it's hooker Tom McCartney finding himself in foreign territory who gets the five points for the visitors.#MUNvCON #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/AT9tHWYWEj

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) January 6, 2018

A fine victory in the end for a Munster team low on confidence over the last few weeks. While the win is welcome for a myriad of reasons, van Grann and co will not be glossing over the fact that the opening 4o minutes was pretty average and that discipline again blighted Munster as they struggled to get a foothold in the game.

The returning Conor Oliver was given the TG4 man of the award but Murray and Earls also had fine games while Ian Keatley demonstrated some excellent control from ten to allow Munster get going in the second half.

However, the team and management will know that they will have to be vastly improved as they head to Paris next weekend for their crucial Champions Cup tie with Racing 92.

https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/949755815866617856