A youthful Munster claimed a bonus-point win over 14-man Wasps in their opening Heineken Champions Cup game.

The bounce of the ball favoured Keith Earls for Munster's first try.

Patrick Campbell, Andrew Conway and Scott Buckley crossed after the break to seal their victory, despite a Michael Le Bourgeois consolation.

Munster had not played a game since their 18-10 defeat at Ospreys on 23 October after a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

Five of their starting XV in Coventry made their senior debuts after 14 players and staff tested positive during the team's abandoned trip to South Africa to play two United Rugby Championship matches.

And, with Wasps down to 13 men after Shields' red card in the 26th minute and then Dan Frost's sin-binning 14 minutes later, it was the visiting youngsters who came to the fore.

Full-back Campbell turned on the speed to race clear and score his side's second try before hooker Buckley was the beneficiary of a line-out move off the training ground to open his senior account.

Wasps, who had lost their last three Premiership games, also had their issues with available personnel as Jack Willis, Joe Launchbury, Vaea Fifita, Malakai Fekitoa, Paolo Odogwu and Dan Robson all ruled out.

Their task was made even harder when Shields was dismissed for a high tackle on Kilcoyne which, on another day, could have been marked down to a yellow card.

Highly-rated youngster Barbeary, on his first start since March, finished off the move he started with a powerful line break to score the first try.

But Munster - who were also able to call on a core of Ireland internationals who did not travel to South Africa following the autumn internationals such as captain Peter O'Mahony, Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray - were too strong with the advantage.

Murray's chip over the top bounced into the grateful hands of the experienced Earls to start the fightback, while a loose pass in the Wasps midfield saw Conway pick up and scamper clear for his side's third try.

Munster host Castres in their next game on Saturday 18 December, while Wasps travel to holders Toulouse on the following day.

Teams

Wasps: Watson; Kibirige, Bassett, Le Bourgeois, Mehson; Gopperth, Wolstenholme; West, Frost, Alo, Shields, Cardall, Carr, Young, Shields (capt), Barbeary

Replacements: Van Vuuren, Hislop, Toomaga-Allen, Curran, Oghre, Porter, Mathews, Anderson

Munster: Campbell; Conway, Farrell, De Allende, Earls; Carbery, Murray; Kilcoyne, Buckley, French; O'Connor, Beirne; O'Mahony (capt), Hodnett, Okeke.

Replacements: Moore, Donnelly, Salanoa, Forde, Moloney, Coughlan, Butler, Wren.