Reigning champions Munster displayed their European Cup pedigree with an impressive 24-16 second round Pool 1 victory over a strong Sale side on Sunday.In other games, Bath beat Newport-Gwent Dragons 13-9 in Pool 5, Cardiff Blues beat Gloucester 37-24 in Pool 6, while Montauban went down 24-19 to Clermont in an all-French Pool 1 clash.
Munster, bursting with Ireland internationals, were effectively marshalled by veteran outside-half Ronan O'Gara and outplayed the home side around the fringes. Munster has eight points atop Group One, Sale has five points, Clermont is on four and Montauban has two after collecting its second bonus. Clermont Auvergne beat Montauban 24-19 in today's other game.
Bath beat Newport-Gwent Dragons 13-9 in Group Five, while Cardiff defeated Gloucester 37-24 in Group Six. Bath, the 1998 champion, is tied on five points with Newport in its group, three points behind record three-time winner Toulouse. Glasgow has one point. Cardiff tops its pool with 10 points, Biarritz has five, Gloucester is on four, and Calvisano is still looking for its first point. Yesterday, Biarritz beat Calvisano 41-10, Leicester won 60-16 at Treviso, Stade Francais defeated the Scarlets 37-15, while the Ospreys beat Perpignan 15-9. Leinster beat Wasps 41-11, Harlequins defeated Ulster 42-21, and Edinburgh won 13-6 against Castres. Toulouse won 22-16 at Glasgow two days ago.
