Munster moved back into a play-off position in the Magners League as a last-minute try from Jean de Villiers saw them complete a post-Christmas blitz of provincial rivals Connacht.

At a bitterly cold Thomond Park, stand-in captain Ronan O’Gara kicked two penalty goals and converted tries from Ian Dowling and Damien Varley as the defending league champions cantered into a 20-0 lead after 28 minutes’ play.

Ian Keatley kicked a penalty in first half injury-time for a gutsy but limited Connacht side, and late tries from man-of-the-match Paul Warwick and de Villiers put the seal on Munster’s second bonus point win in six days.

O’Gara and Denis Hurley were the only survivors from the Munster team that throttled Perpignan last Sunday in the Heineken Cup, while Connacht also made a raft of changes after their back-to-back Amlin Challenge Cup wins over Worcester.

The westerners turned down a long range shot at the posts in a spritely start but Munster soon gained control and with Peter Stringer drawing a penalty from Connacht’s recent signing George Naoupu, O’Gara stepped up to give his side a tenth minute lead.

Felix Jones and Varley counter attacked with vigour and the red wave marched towards the Connacht try-line, with Nick Williams, Niall Ronan and Mick O’Driscoll using their brute strength to barrel forward.

But a well-executed tackle from Brett Wilkinson forced a relieving penalty for Connacht and the game had to be held up for some time as Jones was stretchered off following a clash of heads with Johnny O’Connor.

Old hands O’Gara and Stringer pressed and probed with pinpoint chips and box kicks, and Jones’ replacement, Paul Warwick, was involved twice before winger Dowling was unleashed for an easy run-in at the right corner.

O’Gara sent over a smashing conversion and penalty and Connacht, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, looked to be crumbling as Munster went for the jugular.

The increasingly influential O’Gara refused a shot at the posts in favour of a punt to touch, setting up a trademark lineout catch and drive which resulted in Varley being mauled over the whitewash.

With sleet falling, O’Gara added the extras and Connacht’s night worsened when they lost winger Troy Nathan to the sin-bin for an ill-timed tackle on Warwick.

However, the visitors survived the ensuing forward onslaught and replacement out-half Keatley converted a late penalty to get them on the scoreboard.

20-3 down at the interval, Connacht needed to tighten up their defence but penalties at the breakdown were proving costly and Warwick, taking over the kicking duties from O’Gara, drilled a penalty over into a stiff wind to extend Munster’s advantage.

The returning Nathan did well to get his leg under the ball and prevent Williams from driving over for Munster’s third try, and unforced errors crept into both sides’ play during a stop-start second half.

Connacht’s skipper for the night, Gavin Duffy, was heroic in defence but he could do little when Warwick chipped over the top and won the foot race to chalk up a 71st minute try, which he converted himself.

Munster brought Scott Deasy, Duncan Williams and Mike Sherry on for their league debuts and the hosts’ late adventure was rewarded when de Villiers powered his way over the line on a 20-metre burst, shrugging off Duffy, Michael Swift and Liam Bibo along the way.