Munster Rugby suffered a shock 42-33 defeat to Zebre Parma. They had won all 20 previous games between the sides but were deservedly beaten by six tries to five.
There were six tries in the first half, two from centurion Gavin Coombes, one apiece from Mike Haley, and one from Bryan Fitzgerald on his debut. Tony Butler kicked all four conversions successfully which left Munster in the lead at half-time.
The momentum shifted in the second forty, and despite a try from Shay McCarthy in the last 10 minutes, Zebre finished with a bonus point win.
Zebre were the first to get on the scoreboard after Munster were penalised at the breakdown, and out-half Giovanni Montemauri got three points from the tee. They had a second chance not long after with a long-range penalty, but the ball went just wide of the posts.
A 50:22 by Craig Casey gave Munster an excellent attacking platform, with centurion Gavin Coombes eventually getting over the line just inside the first quarter, a 44th try in one hundred appearances. Tony Butler converted, 3-7.
Zebre hit back immediately with two tries in quick succession. The first came from a maul, out to centres Luca Morisi and Giulio Bertaccini with Jacopo Trulla getting the ball down in the corner, the conversion missed the posts. The second try came from scrum-half Alessandro Fusco with Montemauri converting, 15-7.
Gavin Coombes got his second try of the match minutes later, a straightforward pick and dive which was converted by Butler left the score at 15-14.
Five minutes before half-time, Academy Flanker Ruadhán Quinn made a superb break getting very close to the line, and it was Mike Haley who scored the visitors' third try. For Butler, a third successful conversion.
Munster were rewarded for their boot to the corner when Garryowen man Bryan Fitzgerald scored a try in the dying minutes of the first forty. Fitzgerald made his debut having come on for an injured Shane Daly early in the game. Munster led at the break, 15-28.
Within 90 seconds of the second half Zebre started closing the gap and hit back through an intercept try, as Trulla scored his second in the right corner. Montemauri’s conversion went wide.
Zebre continued to maintain possession, and after two big carries from their props, Giovanni Licata scored their bonus point try, and with the conversion, brought them within one point of Munster, 27-28.
The third try of the half also came from the hosts, with Fusco again getting his side five points under the posts. Montemauri added the extras allowing Zebre to lead by 6 points. Just two minutes later a try from Geronimo Prisciantelli gave Zebre the lead 39-28, but the conversion was wide.
Shay McCarthy scored Munster’s only points of the second half with his try after Mike Haley left several defenders in his wake and Bryan Fitzgerald supporting on the inside. Conor Murray missed the conversion.
Zebre got a penalty in the last minute, and ended the game victorious, 42-33.
Scorers:
Zebre Parma: Tries: Jacopo Trulla (2), Alessandro Fusco (2), Geronimo Prisciantelli. Conversions: Giovanni Montemauri (3). Penalty: Giovanni Montemauri.
Munster Rugby: Tries: Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy. Conversions: Tony Butler (4).
Teams
Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c). Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Patricio Baronio Gauna, 22 Scott Gregory, 23 Giacomo Da Re.
Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Shane Daly, 12 Tom Farrell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Tony Butler, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Ruadhán Quinn, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jagerm 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Josh Wycherley. Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 John Ryan, 19 Jack Daly, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Bryan Fitzgerald, 23 Shay McCarthy.