Munster Rugby fall to third successive defeat in URC as Sharks prevail in Durban

MUNSTER Rugby have suffered a third successive defeat in the United Rugby Championship after a star-studded Hollywoodbets Sharks side secured a convincing 41-24 bonus point victory at Kings Park in Durban.

Munster did manage to secure a late try bonus point in their fourth defeat in six URC fixtures this season. 

The 2023 URC winners, who had claimed 10 points from their two fixtures in South Africa last season, had to make-do with a single bonus point this time following their defeat to the Stormers a week ago.

The visitors, who trailed 0-14 after just five minutes and 10-31 at half-time had tries from Tom Ahern and Mike Haley in the opening half, while Calvin Nash and Tadhg Beirne dotted down in the closing 10 minutes of the contest. 

The Sharks included members of South Africa's World Cup winning tight five in their pack for the game at the 'Shark Tank'.

Next up for Munster is a glamour friendly international fixture against an All-Blacks XV at Thomond Park on Saturday next, 5.30pm. Munster's next outing in the URC is in five weeks time, a Saturday, November 30 meeting with the Emirates Lions at Thomond Park, 7.35pm.

The Sharks, boasting a large contingent of Rassie Erasmus' Springbok squad for the November autumn series, had their four-try bonus wrapped up by the half-time interval.

Aphelele Fassi had opened the scoring for the hosts with just 45 seconds on the clock and he was followed across the whitewash by Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams and Andre Esterhuizen in the opening 37 minutes.

Struggling to compete in the scrum and struggling with the Sharks attack, Munster did hit back through tries from the rampaging Ahern and in-form full-back Haley before the break.

The four-try bonus will certainly have been the goal for Graham Rowntree's men after the restart, but they would concede the first ten points of the second half thanks to a Jordan Hendrikse penalty and Vincent Tshituka's chargedown score.

Calvin Nash's try off a Billy Burns kick-pass brought Munster within a score of the consolation bonus-point and it was left to captain Beirne to provide the fourth try from close range in the last play of the game.

SCORERS: Sharks: Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Andre Esterhuizen, Vincent Tshituka. Cons: Jordan Hendrikse (5). Pens: JordanHendrikse (2). Munster: Tries: Tom Ahern, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tadhg Beirne. Cons: Billy Burns (2).

HOLLYWOODBET SHARKS: Aphelele Fassi, Eduan Keyter, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (Capt), Emile van Heerden, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi. Replacements: Jason Jenkins for Van Heerden (49 mins), Jaden Hendrikse for Williams (59 mins), Francois Venter for Esterhuizen (59 mins), Fez Mbatha for Mbonambi (62 mins), Trevor Nyakane for Koch (62 mins), Ntuthuko Mchunu for Nche (62 mins), Siya Masuku for Jordan Hendrikse (72 mins).

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Seán O’Brien, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue. Replacements: Ruadhán Quinn for Ahern (49 mins), Fineen Wycherley for Kleyn (49 mins), Diarmuid Barron for N Scannell (51 mins), Alex Kendellen for Hodnett (51 mins), Billy Burns for R Scannell (62 mins), Ethan Coughlan for Casey (68 mins), Kieran Ryan for Archer (68 mins), Ronan Foxe for J Ryan (72 mins), John Ryan for K Ryan (79 mins).

REFEREE: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)