Munster's Bonus Point Knocks Leinster Out Of The Cup

Heineken Cup: Munster Rugby 29 Racing Métro 92 6

Simon Zebo zipped in for a hat-trick of tries as Munster swept past 14-man Racing Metro and knocked Leinster out of the Heineken Cup in the process.

Rob Penney's men needed a bonus point win at Thomond Park in order to leapfrog reigning champions Leinster into the second best runners-up spot.

As Munster are the eighth qualifiers for the knockout stages they will face a quarter-final trip to Harlequins..

Racing were forced to play without Antoine Battut for 74 minutes in Limerick, the flanker earning an early red card for a knee to the head.

A trio of first half tries, topped off by Mike Sherry's first Heineken Cup score, handed Munster a deserved 17-6 interval lead.

Gaetan Germain landed a brace of penalties for Racing, but the home side took their try tally to five as man-of-the-match Zebo grabbed his second European hat-trick - matching his exploits from last season's round 6 demolition of Northampton Saints.

The adrenaline was pumping at kick-off as Munster made a typically raucous start with Ian Keatley, deputizing for the suspended Ronan O'Gara, heavily involved.

He blundered when kicking a penalty out on the full but this incident-packed round 6 encounter was turned on its head with the early dismissal of Battut.

Referee Wayne Barnes promptly brandished his red card after spotting Battut aiming a knee towards the head of Tommy O'Donnell at a midfield ruck.

Barnes was in the thick of the action again when Keatley caught him flush in the face with a clearance kick. Munster infringed at the resulting scrum and full-back Germain mopped up with three points.

A series of frustrating penalties thwarted Munster's attempts to respond, with Racing's scrum also holding them at bay.

Space was at a premium despite some incisive running from Zebo and Felix Jones, but Munster's patience was rewarded in the 25th minute.

Their forwards were suitably fired up after a short dust-up. A well-orchestrated maul drive then propelled them forward and scrum half Conor Murray broke to the left to crash over past two defenders.

Keatley converted and just three minutes later, prop David Kilcoyne's rumble through the middle provided the momentum for Munster to put Zebo over in the left corner.

This time the try was unconverted and Racing, although coming under increasing pressure, lifted the siege to tee up a second well-struck penalty from Germain. Munster, however, made it three tries in the space of 11 minutes as Peter O'Mahony assisted hooker Sherry over the line on the end of a muscular lineout maul.

Keatley's missed conversion was followed by two more near misses as Munster tried to seal the bonus point by the break.

Captain Doug Howlett and Keith Earls launched kick chases that almost yielded the desired returns, with the French club scampering back to just deny them.

Howlett went close again on the resumption, a threaded kick through from Keatley just had too much on it.

Eight minutes into the second half, the bonus point was in the bag. Full-back Jones initiated a slick counter attack, passing for Zebo to dink a kick through and collect it on the bounce for a real poacher's finish.

Keatley added the extras for 24-6 and with Munster now bubbling with confidence, Zebo was soon released for the left corner by the increasingly effective Earls.

That five-pointer sparked some improved play from Racing who refused to fold, with replacement Sebastien Descons and captain Jacques Cronje keeping them focused and going forward.

They made a valiant attempt to end their European campaign with a last-minute try as number 8 Cronje stretched for the line. Television match official David Grashoff ruled that it was a double movement.

Munster should have registered more tries in the final quarter as O'Donnell and replacement Casey Laulala tore through the heart of the Racing defense, but the province failed to follow up on those initial breaks.

A yellow card for replacement Masi Matadigo saw Racing finish the game down to 13 players, while Munster youngster Paddy Butler also saw yellow in the dying minutes.