The DHL Stormers had to work hard to beat Munster 27-21 in a round six fixture. The Stormers will be at the top of the URC log following the win, which they could only secure during the final quarter of the game. Munster led 21-06 at the halftime break.
Following five minutes of play, which was “dominated” by Munster, Jurie Matthee converted a fifty-five-meter penalty to edge the Stormers 03-00 into the lead.
Almost immediately thereafter, Tadhg Beirne scored a brilliant try. Jack Crowley converted to secure a 07-03 lead for Munster.
Following twelve minutes of action, Jurie Matthee converted a second penalty to cut Munster’s lead to just one point.
Munster continued their onslaught on the Stormers’ tryline, and eventually John Hodnett bulldozed his way over the tryline. Jack Crowley converted to extend Munster’s lead to 14-06 with twenty minutes to play in the first half.
With twelve minutes still to play in the first half, Munster launched wave after wave of attacks and eventually Jack Crowley crashed over for Munster’s third try. Crowley converted to extend Munster’s lead to 21-06.
The Stormers upped the pace and physicality of their attacks and scored three converted tries during the final quarter. Tries by Adre Smith, Dylan Maart and the intercept try by Ruhan Nel edged the Stormers by 27-21 into the lead with eight minutes to play.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tadhg Beirne (c), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: Bench: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Dan Kelly.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ruan Ackermann, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart.