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Team News | Munster Side To Face Sharks

March 31, 2023 11:48 am By The Editor

RG Snyman will make his Champions Cup debut in Durban on Saturday. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Saturday’s Champions Cup round of 16 clash against Sharks at King’s Park (12.30pm Irish time/1.30pm local, live on BT Sport).

There are five changes to the side that were beaten by Glasgow Warriors last weekend and two positional switches.

RG Snyman makes his first start for Munster since his debut in August 2020 after featuring off the bench twice since returning from a long-term injury.

The game will be Snyman’s Champions Cup debut with Antoine Frisch, Craig Casey, Niall Scannell and captain Peter O’Mahony also coming into the side.

Full-back Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and Shane Daly start in an unchanged back three.

Malakai Fekitoa moves to inside centre with Frisch in at 13 after missing out last week due to injury.

Casey and Jack Crowley start together in the half-backs as Crowley moves from inside centre to out-half.

Dave Kilcoyne, Scannell and Roman Salanoa pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Snyman in the engine room.

O’Mahony starts on his return from international duty with John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completing the starting XV.

Conor Murray also makes his return from international duty and is included among the replacements.

On the injury front, Paddy Patterson sustained a knee injury at training and was unavailable for selection.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Alex Kendellen.

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Report

Report | Munster Beaten By Sharks In Durban Heat

April 1, 2023 3:06 pm By The Editor

Munster captain Peter O'Mahony prepares for a scrum. Inpho

Munster bowed out of the Champions Cup in the Durban heat on Saturday afternoon with the Sharks streaking clear in the second half to deservedly take the victory.

It was an even encounter in the first half with Sharks leading 17-14 at the break but the hosts’ power and Munster indiscipline saw Sharks score five tries in 25 minutes to secure their place in the quarter-finals

In 29 degree temperatures and high humidity, Sharks started well and were dominating the breakdown.

Jean Kleyn was penalised when competing on a Sharks lineout with Curwin Bosch notching the first penalty on 4 minutes to make it 3-0.

Munster hit back off a very well-worked move with Shane Daly scoring in the left corner on five minutes. Jack Crowley converted for a 7-3 advantage before Bosch pulled a penalty wide.

Jaden Hendrikse was in for the first Sharks try on 15 minutes after Makazole Mapimpi made a break in midfield before offloading for the scrum-half to score. Bosch converted and Sharks led 10-7.

Eben Etzebeth was in for the second Sharks try on 24 minutes after the hosts won a scrum penalty and kicked to the corner with the big lock scoring from close range. The conversion made it 17-7.

Munster earned our first penalty on 26 minutes with Crowley kicking into the 22. Munster attacked but a Sharks intercept spoiled the attack and cleared.

Calvin Nash made a 50-metre break from deep and Munster were back in the game when Dave Kilcoyne scored from close range on 31 minutes from close range with Crowley’s conversion making it 17-14 at the break.

Sharks got their maul going early in the second half and won a number of penalties to earn a five-metre lineout with Bongi Mbonambi scoring off a driving maul. Bosch converted and Sharks led 24-14 with 34 minutes to go.

Sharks repeated the dose on 48 minutes with Mbonambi in for his second try. The Munster maul defence had to answer to the Sharks power.

Werner Kok got in for the fifth Sharks try after 53 minutes when the ball dropped into his hands off a ricochet and he raced clear to score. and Bosch converted to make it 36-14 with Sharks out of sight.

Bosch picked up a loose Munster pass to streak clear and score in the right corner with the conversion making it 43-14 as things went from bad to worse.

Diarmuid Barron scored the third Munster try on the hour off a driving maul with Crowley converting to make it 43-21.

Munster were forcing things as they looked to chase the game but Fekitoa’s offload was picked off by Mapimpi for another Sharks try under the posts.

Mike Haley got in for the fourth Munster try on 68 minutes after a well-worked move off a lineout with Crowley again on target.

Fineen Wycherley scored the fifth Munster try on 77 minutes after a powerful finish but there was no way back as Sharks clinched a 15-point victory.

Champions Cup Round of 16 Round-Up

RG Snyman made his first start since 2020 and his Champions Cup debut.

Roman Salanoa sustained an injury in the first half and will be assessed by the medical department.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa (Joey Carbery, 69), Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Conor Murray, 48); Dave Kilcoyne (Josh Wycherley, 59), Niall Scannell (Diarmuid Barron, 48), Roman Salanoa (inj, Stephen Archer, 19); Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman (Fineen Wycherley, 48); Peter O’Mahony (C) (Jack O’Donoghue, 55), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes (Alex Kendellen, 55).