IT MAY have been the most pointless of bonus points but Jack Dixon's try at the death at least ensured Newport Gwent Dragons finished their season with a smile in Cork.

While most of the 8,200-strong crowd at the revamped Musgrave Park were checking social media to see if Connacht had denied the Ospreys an all-important fourth try, thus ensuring Munster will enjoy home comfort this weekend, the 20-year-old centre sneaked over for an extra that moved his side's league tally to 42 points.

That's the highest figure since 2011 and had they notched the same amount last year then they would have been seventh rather than the ninth position that they have retained this year, an indication of how Champions Cup qualification has improved the Guinness Pro12 in mid-table.

The Dragons were already cemented above Cardiff Blues and the Italian pair so Dixon's score was a ripple to the league table while waves were being made by the top three and the Scarlets in sixth.

But it was a score that rather summed up a slightly daft afternoon and it was a try strengthened the argument that the French bonus point system – where a team must score three more tries than their opponents rather than simply being rewarded for four – is better.

Munster hadn't exactly clocked off but it didn't matter a jot to them if the Dragons left with one point or nothing (incidentally their fourth four-try bonus is their best figure since 2004).

Therefore the scoreline still reflects a thumping but a respectable one with the Rodney Parade side a distant second against a team that will start Saturday's semi-final against the Ospreys in Limerick as favourites.

It should be pointed out that an away win in Cork was as likely as a home success was in the Oxford encounter between London Welsh and Saracens at the Kassam Stadium.

Munster may not be the Munster of old but they still boast two players, Paul O'Connell and Conor Murray, that could stake a claim for a World XV and many others that would jostle for spots in the Pro12 XV.

They had the carrot of a home semi-final, the Dragons had... well, professional pride.

Add the Elliot Dee/Rhys Thomas combination, Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans, Pat Leach and Hallam Amos, who could have run amok in such a loose game, and things may have been closer but every side has injuries.

And as Lyn Jones put it after the game, "I don't think many teams in Europe would have come here and won against that motivated Munster side."

There was a bizarre feel to the game and it was certainly not like the Six Nations Super Saturday.

To be in the Stadio Olimpico on March 21 was an incredible experience – watching Wales set a formidable target, Ireland incredibly pass it then England give it a good crack.

Last Saturday was super in the sense that there was plenty up for grabs but matters in Cork were done and dusted before the clock at the Dolphin RFC end of the nicely redeveloped Musgrave Park had hit 23.

Like Six Nations Super Saturday there were points galore but they had no bearing on league placings, that drama all took place in Glasgow and Galway.

But from a Dragons point of view it was fitting that they signed off with some hope for a campaign that has featured some glorious highs. Jones' charges have provided plenty of joy this season so it was pleasing that they showed some spirit in the final game rather than suffering a complete battering.

It would be pushing it to say that they gave Munster a bloody nose but they at least caused some problems and gave food for thought ahead of the Ospreys humdinger.

The Dragons created more chances in one afternoon than they probably have in the 10 previous defeats in Munster since their Thomond win in the first season of regional rugby (and this was the first time since 2007 that they have headed home with something).

But just like against the Scarlets at the Millennium Stadium, it was their execution that let them down.

That is not to say that they were ever in with a chance of winning; Munster had this all wrapped up just past the quarter but the visitors showed plenty of spirit and attacking endeavour.

They never gave up yet rugby is a brutally simple game and although some lovely stuff was played on Saturday it was the nuts and bolts that got the job done for Munster.

They led 33-10 at the break after putting the squeeze on with their driving lineout; the Dragons have been excellent using such a tool in attack this season but Europe-wide teams have struggled in defence.

The Dragons opened the scoring through the left boot of fly-half Jason Tovey only to concede swiftly to home centre Andrew Smith, who glided through all too easily after Jonathan Evans' clearance kick was charged down.

The visitors responded with Taulupe Faletau's powerful run from a kick and glorious offload allowing wing Ashton Hewitt to race over for a score that was greeted with silence that remained for Tovey's excellent touchline conversion.

Then Munster turned the screw with three scores from driving lineouts with the Dragons guilty of indiscipline and poor kicking to enable Munster to dictate where the game was played.

CJ Stander was driven over then Conor Murray crossed for a brace either side of hooker Hugh Gustafson being yellow-carded for illegally stopping a rolling maul. Bonus point bagged in the 23rd minute.

The Dragons then piled on the pressure but the scores came at the other end with lock Paul O'Connell and wing Keith Earls crossing either side of half-time for a 40-10 lead.

Cue another bout of sustained pressure by the Dragons with the sole reward a try by centre Tyler Morgan after fly-half Dorian Jones' lively break.

And cue another instance of Munster showing them how the top half do it – Murray sniping off yet another driving lineout of 45-17.

Yet the Dragons kept coming and posed plenty of problems for a Munster side that granted had been disrupted by changes from the bench and by minds possibly switching from Rodney Parade to the Liberty Stadium.

Replacement hooker Rhys Buckley hit his target at a five-metre lineout then guided the ship over the line and, after a cracking finish by Munster wing Ronan O'Mahony, came Dixon's score after a patient attack directed by the departing Richie Rees.

It didn't change the result but it certainly ensured there was no deflation as the Dragons head to the beach. Roll on September.

Munster: F Jones, K Earls (A Conway 65), A Smith, D Hurley (captain), R O'Mahony, I Keatley (JJ Hanrahan 54), C Murray (D Williams 67), J Ryan (D Kilcoyne 51), E Guinazu (N Scannell 51), BJ Botha (S Archer 65), B Holland, P O'Connell (S Dougall 69), D Ryan, P Butler, CJ Stander (J O'Donoghue 69).

Scorers: tries – A Smith, CJ Stander, C Murray (3), P O'Connell, K Earls, R O'Mahony; conversions – I Keatley (5)

Yellow card: P Butler

Dragons: J Tovey (GR Jones 70), T Prydie, T Morgan (B Nightingale 63-69), J Dixon, A Hewitt, D Jones, J Evans (R Rees 51), B Stankovich (P Price 65), H Gustafson (R Buckley 63), B Harris (L Fairbrother 65), C Hill (M Screech 57), R Landman (captain), N Crosswell (R Buckley 21-30, J Benjamin 65), N Cudd, T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – A Hewitt, T Morgan, R Buckley, J Dixon; conversions – J Tovey (2); penalty – J Tovey

Yellow card: H Gustafson

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Attendance: 8,200