Against an Italian side who showed they will do so much more than make up the Magners numbers, Munster might have been slow in establishing consistency but once they did, their performance achieved the clinical ruthlessness needed to dispatch the League newcomers.

And no, it wasn't plain sailing for the Denis Leamy led side by any stretch of the imagination. Aironi had a serious spine to their selection in French internationals Julien Laharrague at full-back and Ludovic Mercier at out-half, Italian internationals, scrum-half Tito Tebaldi and hooker Fabio Ongaro with the powerful Nick Williams at number eight.

It was Mercier who produced the touch of magic in the 33rd minute and that knocked any sense of complacency that may have existed from Munster supporters minds.

At that stage, Munster led 11-6 thanks to two Paul Warwick penalties - the first from over 40 metres - and a sweetly taken Felix Jones try off a clever pop pass from the excellent Peter Stringer.

Then with nothing seemingly on, and just inside his 22, Mercier delivered the deftest of chip kicks that was retrieved by Dylan Des Fountain who had his centre partner Roberto Quartaroli in support. The former Under 20 international's perfect pass sent Laharrague scorching for the line and the touchdown in the corner. Mercier missed the conversion but the gloves were most certainly off with little doubt now about the visitors talent or threat.

But as was to be the hallmark of their performance on the night, Munster responded positively. They worked their way upfield with Jones's pace to catch the Italian defence flat-footed and send the sides into the break 11 points apiece.

The Munster coach doesn't do histrionics but whatever he does at half time, his side responded. They immediately went on the offensive from the restart and within ten minutes were twelve points clear.

With Salvatore Perugini in the bin, it was the pack who orchestrated - after Doug Howlett and Sam Tuitupou's forays down the right wing had earned good field position - first RTE's Man of the Match Niall Ronan, burrowing over for Warwick to convert and then Tony Buckley adding a second, four minutes later.

Mercier kept his side in contention with a 54th minute penalty, a score that was cancelled out, two minutes later by a cool Warwick drop-goal.

Mercier was on the mark again but then we had Ronan's second try, created initially by a training ground move perfectly recreated. Howlett came into the line off his wing, Tuitupou running the decoy, and the Kiwi sent Johne Murphy racing clear. A last gasp tackle took the Kildareman down but the support arrived in numbers and at impressive speed and Ronan picked up to poach the clincher.

To their credit, Aironi refused to buckle and the game ended with them attacking the Munster line.But if you credit them for that, then heap credit also on Munster for the way they refused to yield, with the outcome and the bonus point securely in the bag.

Munster: F Jones (S Deasy 79 min); D Howlett, J Murphy, S Tuitupou (D Barnes 76 min), I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer (D Williams 65 min); W du Preez (M Horan 56 min), D Varley (D Fogarty 56 min), T Buckley (J Hayes 56 min), M O'Driscoll (A Quinlan 63 min), B Holland; D Ryan, N Ronan (P O'Mahony 489 (temp) & 76 mins), D Leamy capt.

Aironi Rugby: Julien Laharrague; Giulio Rubini, Roberto Quartaroli, Dylan Des Fountain, Giulio Toniolatti; Ludovic Mercier, Tito Tebaldi; Alberto De Marchi, Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Perugini; Carlo Del Fava, Quintin Geldenhuys; Jaco Erasmus, Gareth Krause, Nick Williams. Replacements: Andrea De Marchi, Roberto Santamaria, Luigi Milani, Marco Bortolami, Aldo Birchall, Michael Wilson, Alberto Benettin, Gabriel Pizarro.