Munster 0 Chiefs 12

Meanwhile, Munster – who they will face two more times this season in the Heineken Champions Cup – made six changes to their team that had seen off London Irish at the same venue just seven days earlier. Among those handed a start was summer signing Mike Haley, who has joined the Irish province from Premiership side Sale Sharks.

With conditions perfect overhead and the 4G surface getting only it’s second run-out, it was the visitors who dominated the opening 40 minutes.

Baxter’s side were hugely impressive from the outset, their forwards creating a healthy platform from which the back division, spearheaded by the experience Steenson, were able to work.

Just ten minutes had elapsed when the visitors broke the deadlock through Woodburn. The Exeter winger was able to apply the finishing touch in the left corner after Ollie Devoto and Ian Whitten had caused mayhem in the home ranks.

Devoto, out for much of last season with injury, was again catching the eye in midfield as he continually asked questions of his opposite number with some hard, yet direct running through the middle.

The Chiefs were making all the running and it came as no surprise when they doubled their lead through Williams. The England international burrowed his way over from close range after move good work from Devoto, Whitten and Phil Dollman.

Steenson, who had narrowly missed with his first conversion attempt, had clearly learnt from his previous effort, this time bringing his kick back cleverly on the strong cross-field breeze.

Sadly, that would be Williams’ last meaningful action as he was forced to depart just moments later with a nasty looking leg injury. An untimely blow for the tight-head who was part of a dominant Exeter front-row trio.

New defence coach Julian Salvi will have been heartened by the way the Chiefs threw themselves into every collision. To a man, everyone stood tall in the face of mounting pressure from the home side.

Munster threw on fresh muscle from the sidelines, including former Northampton Saints playmaker JJ Hanrahan and South African forward Arno Botha, whose growing presence when picking up off the base of a series of close-range scrums had the Chiefs scrambling to keep him at bay.

Although Munster were the dominant force, finding an end product was proving elusive as the Chiefs remained defiant.Hanrahan’s break, when he sliced through a gap left by Ollie Atkins and Elvis Taione, again caused panic in the visiting ranks, but Cordero was able to race back and cover the threat.

Having survived the threat, it was the Chiefs who were able to then go on a rare second half offensive. A booming Henry Slade penalty from deep inside his own half got them back within sight of the home line, but they were unable to make their momentary spell of pressure tell and the chance came and went in a blink of the eye.

As Munster continued to press, referee Gallagher warned the Chiefs that any more infringing close to their line may result in further sanction. A Hanrahan grubber in behind was safely seen off as a plethora of home attackers lay in wait, while yet more dominant defence from the Premiership outfit appeared to eventually subdue their Irish rivals.

In the end, it was job done for the Chiefs who, after an attacking first 40, then underlined their defensive resolve with an equally impressive second half showing. A similar display, if not better, will be needed against the Tigers in a week’s time.