JJ Hanrahan scored 12 points with the boot as Munster followed up their impressive win against Leinster last weekend by defeating Scarlets 17-6 at Thomond Park.

Andrew Smith scored the game’s only try in the first half for Munster, while Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland experienced a miserable night off the kicking tee as the visitors crumbled after the break.

The Scarlets arrived at Thomond Park as one of the form teams in the GUINNESS PRO12, having suffered just one defeat in their last seven games, and the confidence from the Welsh side was obvious for all to see.

The visitors raced into a first-minute lead as Welsh international No.10 Priestland dropped an ambitious goal.

Despite claiming an impressive win at Leinster last time out and dominating their Irish rivals up front – Munster made eight changes to their side for the visit of the Scarlets, including fielding an all-new front row of Dave Kilcoyne, BJ Botha and Kevin O’Byrne.

The return of Peter O’Mahony after injury was an obvious boost to the Munster pack but the number of changes, particularly up front, seemed to affect their early passages of play.

Despite this, Hanrahan had an immediate opportunity to level things up for Munster from the tee – despite the sloppy start – but the Irish fly-half missed his penalty attempt after four minutes.

The Welshmen’s away form has been far from spectacular, with their only victory on the road coming against Benetton Treviso on February 8, while their solitary victory in Ireland since November 2012 was at Connacht last November.

Despite their solid start; Munster got back on level terms after 21 minutes as Hanrahan leveled the scores at 3-3 with a straightforward penalty in front of the posts.

And patient Munster build-up play in the forwards was rewarded in the 24^th minute as the home side scored the game’s first try.

After impressive work up front, Conor Murray and Hanrahan combined for Smith to dive over in the corner under heavy pressure but Hanrahan was unable to add the extras.

Priestland should have reduced the arrears just two minutes later but the Welsh international missed an easy penalty kick to leave the score at 8-3 to Munster.

Johne Murphy was penalised on 37 minutes for not releasing just ten yards from his own try-line, handing Priestland another shot at goal but again the Welshman was unable to take advantage as he rattled the woodwork.

But just 60 seconds later Priestland was able to add to the visitors’ point tally, landing a long-range penalty to make the score 8-6 and in the process take him past 1,000 points in a Scarlets jersey.

Munster started the second-half much brighter and they extended their lead after only two minutes as Hanrahan kicked an all-important penalty to leave the score at 11-6.

It should have got even better for Munster just four minutes later but Hanrahan missed a very kickable penalty, however, the fly-half didn’t have to wait long to make amends as 60 seconds later he knocked over a three-pointer from an almost identical position.

On the hour mark more Scarlets indiscipline at the breakdown was punished as Hanrahan scored his third penalty after the break to take the score out to 17-6 with just 20 minutes left to play.

Munster had opportunities to extend their lead further in the final ten minutes but were unable to take advantage of great field positions but by that stage the hard work had already been done.

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