Beating any national side is an achievement for a provincial team and such was the ease of this Munster victory that it questions where the USA Eagles are at present.
From a home point of view there is no doubt that Munster mean serious business this season. Their preparation has been almost silent yet purposeful and they are already at a stage where the gap between first team and second string is beginning to diminish. Tony McGahan only does success.
His aim will be to raise the standard of Munster Rugby to a new level. We have come to expect big Heineken Cup days from the province, but this season those expectations will stretch into the Magners League and beyond.
McGahan will demand an unbeaten season in the new Limerick stadium, which includes a win over the All Blacks, and silverware to stand alongside the Setanta Challenge Cup has already become almost a necessity.

Spending spree
It is interesting to note that Munster have not delved into a spending spree to strengthen their squad. Jeremy Manning's decision to remain in the country gives them three out-half options and the arrival of Mikey Prendergast from Gloucester brings the scrum-half tally also to an experienced threesome. Munster's spending reached its peak last season with the signing of Dougie Howlett and former Auckland Blue Nick Williams remains the only new face yet to throw its shadow on the newly-laid Thomond Park turf.

Keith Earls
The one player from the new crop who continues to light up every game he plays in is former Thomond boy Keith Earls.
He made a few fleeting appearances last season in the Magners League, but was too often played out of position on the wing. Could Earls be the next Brian O'Driscoll, the golden boy of Irish rugby, a player who could name his price with any of the top European clubs? The way he is shaping up at the moment rules nothing out. Two seasons ago this column tipped Keith as the most promising centre in Irish rugby. Since then he has justified that prediction and it is now up to Declan Kidney and Alan Gaffney to give youth its fling and not delay a first senior cap for the Young Munster star. Earls is already deserving of an Ireland call-up. This season he has broken into the initial international training squad and those with superior knowledge of backline play remain adamant that Keith has more superior skills than some of those who have hogged the Ireland shirt for too long.
If Earls is not capped during the November tests or during the Six Nations, then the promise that the new personnel brings with it at the top of Irish international rugby will have counted for nought.
If he was playing in any of the other home unions his natural talent would already have been acknowledged with a senior cap.

Strengthen squad
It appears that Munster boss Tony McGahan wants to strengthen his squad further.
That decision may not rest with the coach but with CEO Garret Fitzgerald who has proven himself to be quite a financial wizard since taking on the most responsible job in Munster Rugby.
Another back-row appears to be McGahan's goal but he will only settle for top quality, if it comes at the right price!
The past year has seen monumental change within Munster Rugby and they have resisted the temptation to offer the major appointments to names that would have been automatic choices a few seasons ago.

Niall O'Donovan
Niall O'Donovan continues to be left out in the cold following the clean sweet by the IRFU at senior international level. That has been one of the most regrettable developments of an otherwise vibrant off-season of change.
'Niallo' has been linked with the Scottish RFU but there have been no official or even unofficial rumblings of an imminent appointment from Edinburgh. He applied for the Munster job of forwards coach but that post also slipped away, going to another Australian, Laurie Fisher.
The smaller wage packet appointment that combined technical advisor to the senior squad, assistant coach to the Munster under 20s and forwards coach to Munster A will keep Axle Foley involved, adding to speculation that O'Donovan will have a low-key 2008/9.
It is quite amazing that the former Shannon back-row, who was Ireland forwards' coach from 2002 up to last June for the tests in Australia and New Zealand, could fall out of favour so swiftly.
Niall was an outstanding number eight and played a major role in the development of his successor to that Shannon jersey, Anthony Foley. Winner of five Munster Senior Cup medals and 20 Munster caps, 'Niallo' coached Shannon to their famous four in a row AIL titles before linking up with Declan Kidney and Munster in 1999/2000.

London Irish
This Friday night (7.30), Munster have their first home outing of the new season when London Irish make the short trip from the English capital to the Rebel County.
The 46-22 win over the USA Eagles will give the home lads a major boost and if they can follow that up with a win over 'Irish' in Musgrave Park, they will head off to Murrayfield a week later brimming with confidence for their opening Magners League fixture against Edinburgh Rugby (Friday, September 5, ko 7.30). A brace of home games at Musgrave Park follow against the Dragons (Sunday, September 14, 6.00pm) and Cardiff Blues (Saturday, September 20, 7.30pm) before the gloves come off for another trip to the RDS on Sunday, September 28 (7.00pm).
Where we would be in this country without the Magners League is anybody's guess.
The competition has become more vital to the survival of professional rugby in Ireland, Scotland and Wales as the game progresses.
If, perish the thought, the league was to collapse (and it was under threat until Magners stepped in as major sponsors), the repercussions would be massive.
State of the art grounds such as the Liberty Stadium and Thomond Park Stadium would be hardest hit with Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht reduced to knocking spots off each other a couple of times each season to keep in shape for the Heineken Cup.
There are no other options with the English League and the French League too well established for them to consider a new formula that would include all six unions.