Munster hosted the Cell C Sharks in their United Rugby Championship opener. Initially, the Cell C Sharks dominated, however, as the game continued there was a definite shift of momentum. The hosts were at the end comfortable winners with 42-17.
05:46 Simon Zebo pounced on a loose pass from the Sharks to run a good 70m to score Munsters 1st try (05-00).
20:00 Although Munster was in the lead after an early try, it was the Sharks that enjoyed the territorial and positional advantage. An even game at this stage with Munster definately in control come scrum time.
28:02 Thomas du Toit (Sharks) sent off with a yellow card.
28:46 Joey Carbery convert a penalty for Munster (08-00).
31:09 Curwin Bosch convert a penalty for the Sharks (08-03).
35:17 Craig Casey scored Munster's second try. Casey, scrumhalf of Munster broke from the back of the scrum to score a great try (13-03).
43:14 Jean Kleyn drives over from a penalty 5 meters from the Sharks tryline as the power of the Munster's forwards are beginning to take its toll (20-03).
40:00 Munster's forwards dominance is starting to pay dividends for the hosts. Momentum was at this stage with Munster.
50:55 Gavin Coombes scored Munster's bonus-point try from a 5m penalty tip-and-drive (27-03).
56:19 Boeta Chamberlain intercept a floating pass from Munster to run 60m and score the Sharks first try (27-10).
60:00 Munster was in complete control of the match at that stage. The Sharks were looking extremely tired and their lack of discipline not helping.
68:18 Ben Healy convert a penalty for Munster (30-10).
70:02 Yaw Penxe scored a great try for the Sharks after a movement that started in their own half. Jeremy Ward's brilliant pass to Penxe played a big part in the Sharks' second try (30-17).
77:08 Chris Cloete scored Munster's 5th try on the back of Munster's forward dominance (37-17).
79-08 Simon Zebo scored his second try of the night. Munster's backline handling too much for the defence of the Sharks (42-17).
Scorers:
Munster: Tries: Simon Zebo (2), Craig Casey, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes. Conversions: Joey Carbery (2), Ben Healy. Penalty: Joey Carbery, Ben Healy.
Cell C Sharks: Try: Boeta Chamberlain, Yaw Penxe. Conversion: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalty: Curwin Bosch.
Munster: 15. Mike Haley, 14. Andrew Conway, 13.Dan Goggin, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Simon Zebo, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Craig Casey, 8. Gavin Coombes, 7. Jack O’Donoghue, 6. Peter O’Mahony (c), 5. Fineen Wycherley, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. John Ryan, 2. Niall Scannell, 1. Dave Kilcoyne. Replacements: 16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Keynan Knox, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Thomas Ahern, 21. Rowan Osborne, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Chris Cloete.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Boeta Chamberlain, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. Dylan Richardson, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ruben van Heerden, 21. Mpilo Gumede, 22. Sanele Nohamba, 23. Jeremy Ward.