Rampant Munster go top

John Kelly scored one of Munster's nine tries

Viadana 22-55 Munster

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Munster jumped to the top of Pool 2 with a nine-try thrashing of Viadana in Italy on Saturday evening.

Two tries each from Jason Holland, Frankie Sheahan and Alan Quinlan helped last year's finalists to leapfrog over Gloucester who fell to Perpignani earlier in the day.

The Italians were still nursing bruises from last weekend's 64-0 thumping, and fared little better on their home turf at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella.

Munster's victory now sets up to head-to-head with the Cherry and Whites on 18 January 18 at Thomond Park.

Match details:

Viadana 22
Tries: Roux, Crane, Pedrazzi
Pens: Steyn
Cons: Steyn, Pickering

Munster 55
Tries: Mullins Holland 2, Quinlan 2, Sheahan 2, Kelly, Foley
Cons: O'Gara 5

Munster centre Mike Mullins was over the line in only the third minute and from then on it got steadily worse for the Italian side.

Tries came thick and fast and the scoreline would have been more only for fly-half Ronan O'Gara to allow the first three touchdowns to go unconverted.

Holland, Quinlan twice, and Frank Sheahan increased Munster's advantage to 29-3 at the break with Casper Steyne replying for the home side.

Winger John Kelly, back after four weeks on the sidelines, scored another try on the restart before Viadana finally crossed the Munster line.

Scrum-half Paul Roux scampered over and Steyn's conversion took the home side into double figures.

Viadana also managed a couple of second-half tries with centre Harley Crane and winger Roberto Pedrazzi touching down.

But it was only a temporary pause with Anthony Foley, Holland and Sheahan finishing Munster's scoring tally.

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Munster: J Staunton; J Kelly; M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, J Williams, capt, A Foley, A Quinlan.
Replacements: J Blaney, S Kerr, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, M Prendergast, K Keane, M Lawlor.