Earls' eight-minute hat-trick sees Munster crush Edinburgh

Keith Earls scored an eight-minute hat-trick and Chris Farrell added a brace after eight months on the sidelines as Munster routed Edinburgh 44-14 in the Pro14.

Munster, second in Conference A, had won four games in a row in all competitions going into Friday’s encounter, and they started like a team well in form as they surged into a 19-0 lead thanks to in part to an Andrew Conway double.

Duhan van der Merwe responded for Edinburgh, but Earls’ first try on the half-hour mark was the start of a sensational spell as he crossed twice more before the break to put Munster in full command.

A considerably more low-key second half saw Tyler Bleyendaal go over and Farrell, making his return from a knee injury, add his second for Munster either side of a Van der Merwe consolation as they cruised to an easy triumph.

An immense display from Chris Farrell as he scores two after eight months on the side lines ?

The @Munsterrugby centre is presented with the #GUINNESSPRO14 Man of the Match award by Una McCarthy on behalf of Guinness ? pic.twitter.com/hbf8tYNHuA

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 30, 2018

Elsewhere, Ospreys avoided a fourth defeat in five games by hammering Zebre 43-0.

Wing Luke Morgan did the bulk of the damage for the hosts with a try in the first half and two in the second to complete his hat-trick as they piled misery on the struggling Italian side.

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