Munster travelled to Rodney Parade knowing that a win would send them to the top of the table but they produced a huge below par performance to leave with nothing at all and and complaints about that either.

To put their 19-12 victory over Edinburgh in context consider they hadn't played in over six weeks, lost three players in the space of two minutes in the opening quarter and played twenty minutes of the second half with 14 players.

Four Ronan O'Gara penalties, two in either half, helped Munster to a 12-9 victory over Northampton Saints and a place in the Heineken Cup quarter final for a record breaking 12th consecutive season.

Munster left themselves in pole position to qualify for the knock-out phase of this year's Heineken Cup with a bonus point 44-7 win over Benetton Treviso in front of a packed house in the Stadio Comunale Monigo in Treviso.

Ultimately, it was a brace of tries within the space of three minutes from wing Simon Danielli as early as the close of the opening quarter, that decided this Magners League clash at Ravenhill in Ulster's favour

Although he only played for the first forty minutes or so, Ronan O'Gara played a pivotal role in Munster's return to winning ways in the Magners League at Thomond Park Stadium.

Three second half tries from Denis Hurley, Jean de Villiers and Doug Howlett earned Munster a sensational bonus point 37-14 victory over Perpignan at a packed Stade Aime Giral on Sunday

That Munster and O'Gara have found getting back in the groove a tad difficult since the start of the season cannot be questioned.

Despite a late flurry that yielded a try for a bonus losing point, Munster will be disappointed coming away from the Liberty Stadium following their 19-14 defeat tp Ospreys.

While it's still a long way to go in the season, Munster left their detractors with eggs on their faces after a bonus point 24-10 victory over Magners League leaders Ulster in front of a near 17,000 crowd in Thomond Park Stadium.