Munster got the 2021/22 season off to an excellent start as Johann van Graan’s side recorded an 42-17 bonus-point victory over South African newcomers The Sharks.  

First half tries from Simon Zebo, Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes and five points from the boot of Joey Carbery gave Munster a 20-3 lead at the interval.    

The bonus-point was wrapped up soon after half-time when Coombes barged his way over for his second of the night.  

The Sharks responded through tries from Boeta Chamberlain and Yaw Penxe but a Ben Healy penalty kept the visitors at bay. 

Late tries from Chris Cloete and Zebo sealed a 42-17 win in front a delighted Thomond Park crowd.

In the opening minutes, the Sharks received an penalty opportunity after Jack O’Donoghue infringed at the breakdown which allowed Curwin Bosch an opportunity to kick three points but his effort was wide.

Moments later, Munster responded after a loose pass from Boeta Chamberlain was picked up by Simon Zebo and the province’s record try scorer sprinted down the touchline from inside his own half to score in the corner.

Carbery’s conversion attempt was just wide of the posts as Munster took a 5-0 lead early on.

Munster extended their lead when a superb offload out of the tackle from Rory Scannell released Dan Goggin in midfield which subsequently saw the centre offload to Craig Casey. With play now up to the Sharks’ 22, the South African side infringed at the breakdown which allowed Carbery the opportunity to extend Munster’s lead to 8-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Sharks responded well to that setback by kicking a penalty of their own, this time Bosch was accurate from the tee to give his side their first points of the game.

The flurry of points continued and this time it was Munster who responded after a scrum 5m from the Sharks line saw Craig Casey go down the blindside to spring through a gap and dot down in the corner.

Carbery’s conversion from the touchline was wide as Munster took a 13-3 lead.

With Munster looking like they were about to go in at half-time with a 10-point lead, they gained more territory deep inside the Sharks’ half. With a penalty awarded just a few metres out from the visitors’ line, Niall Scannell quick-tapped and attacked the line before last season’s top try scorer Gavin Coombes muscled his way over the line from close-range.

Carbery succeeded with the conversion attempt to give Munster a 20-3 lead at half-time.

Munster almost secured the bonus-point just a few minutes into the second half when Rory Scannell’s delightful chip was collected by Andrew Conway. Conway offloaded in the tackle to Niall Scannell before the hooker found Conway again with a deft pass. The winger was brought to ground just short of the Sharks’ line but the visitors were able to win a penalty at the breakdown following a few close-range carries from Munster.

The bonus-point was soon secured after 10 minutes of the second half. A quick-tap from Dave Kilcoyne saw the prop stopped just short of the Sharks’ line before Coombes continued his rich try scoring form with another close-range effort. Carbery’s conversion saw Munster stretch their lead out to 27-8.

The Sharks hit back just over five minutes later after a skip pass from Carbery was picked off by Chamberlain who raced clear from the halfway line to score under the posts.

With the score now at 27-10, Munster responded with a Ben Healy penalty to make it 30-10. However, the Sharks put some gloss on the scoreline when Yaw Penxe found himself in space to go over for his side’s second try. 

With the score at 30-17, Munster upped the intensity in the final few minutes as tries from Chris Cloete and a superb team effort which was finished off by Zebo sealed a 42-17 victory in front of a delighted home crowd in Limerick.

United Rugby Championship Round 1 Round-Up

Craig Casey was awarded the Player of the Match.

The province’s record try-scorer Simon Zebo stretched his haul to 62 tries on his return to the province after his brace on Saturday night.

Rugby World Cup winner RG Snyman made his Thomond Park debut from the bench on his second appearance for the province having missed last season through injury.

Rowan Osborne made his competitive debut for Munster as he was introduced from the bench in the second half.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Joey Carbery (Healy 64’), Craig Casey (Osborne 72′); Dave Kilcoyne (Loughman 60’), Niall Scannell (Barron 60’), John Ryan (Knox 53’); Jean Kleyn (Ahern 53’), Fineen Wycherley (Snyman 65’); Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue (Cloete 60’), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, RG Snyman, Thomas Ahern, Rowan Osborne, Ben Healy, Chris Cloete.