Munster Rugby left stunned as DHL Stormers' second half power surge ends unbeaten run in URC

MUNSTER Rugby succumbed to a second half power surge from the DHL Stormers to see their unbeaten start to this season's United Rugby Championship ended on a 27-21 scoreline in front of 14,421 spectators at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

The home side looked on course to win this top-of-the-table clash between the two unbeaten sides in the URC when leading 21-6 at half-time. 

Munster had tries from Tadhg Beirne, John Hodnett and Jack Crowley. Out-half Crowley landed all three conversions.

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The Stormers were a different side after the restart powered by a dominant scrum and bit impact from their substitutes' bench.

Munster failed to score during the second 40 minutes. 

The South African side scored 21 unanswered points to claim a famous win. The winning try came from an intercept inside the Stormers half eight minutes from time.

Adre Smith, Dylan Maart and Ruhan Nel all touched down for the Stormers as they moved six points ahead. Jurie Matthee, who kicked two first-half penalties, added the extras on each occasion.

Even after the Stormers hit the front with that intercept try, the drama was far from done. Munster thought they had managed to snatch victory in the final couple of minutes, but a converted try from Tom Farrell was scratched on review for a knock-on in the lead up to it.

The defeat is a blow to Munster ahead of the start of the Investec Champions Cup and a date with Bath Rugby at The Rec on Saturday night at 8pm.

It is a first competitive loss for Munster head coach Clayton McMillan since he took over the role in the summer. 

Munster had won their last five home games in the URC since another South African side, the Bulls, beat them at Thomond Park last April.

The Stormers only previous victory away at an Irish province before Saturday night's win in Limerick was when they beat Connacht 16-12 in Galway in May 2024.

On a favourable night weather wise for rugby, it was the visitors who suffered an early setback when second row Connor Evans received a yellow card for a deliberate obstruction just three minutes in.

However, the Stormers opened the scoring when out-half Jurie Matthee was on target with a penalty after Munster were penalised at the breakdown.

Munster hit back, however, captain Tadhg Beirne surged over for the first try of the match after Gavin Coombes had put him into space.

However, Matthee was accurate off the tee soon after after the Stormers showed superiority at the scrum.

Marcel Theunissen became the second Stormers player to be sent to the sin-bin after offsides midway through the first period and one minute after he exited the pitch, replacement back-row John Hodnett went over for a try as Munster moved nine points to the good at 14-6.

Just short of the half-hour mark, Munster's Ireland international centre Tom Farrell burst through a gap in the defence and offloaded to Coombes, who rumbled his way towards the line, before delivering a short pass to Crowley, who went over the whitewash.

Crowley also converted to help the home side into their 15-point interval lead.

Just before the hour mark, Adre Smith barged over as the Stormers showed their dominance up front with a series of pick and goes.

Number eight Coombes became the third player to be shown a yellow during the match as the Television Match Official indicated that the Munster back-row should be carded for a trip.

The score that saw Stormers move into the lead was an impressive one - out-half Matthee delivering a precise accurate kick into the hands of Maart, who dived over to mark his debut with a try.

The Cape Town visitors then extended their advantage when centre Ruhan Nel intercepted a pass in midfield and sprinted over the try-line.

Munster fans thought they had struck a decisive blow with five minutes remaining when scrum-half Craig Casey kicked for the corner and Farrell gathered and crossed the tryline. However, the referee indicated 'no try' after consulting replays.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: John Hodnett for O’Donoghue (HIA, 10 mins); Niall Scannell for Barron, Michael Milne for Loughman (both 54 mins); Edwin Edogbo for Wycherley (58 mins); Ronan Foxe for Ryan, Dan Kelly for Nankivell (both 61 mins).

DHL STORMERS: Warrick Gelant; Dylan Maart, Wandisile Simelane, Ruhan Nel, Leolin Zas; Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer; Vernon Matongo, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché; Salmaan Moerat (capt), Connor Evans; Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos. Replacements: JJ Kotzé for Venter, Oli Kebble for Matongo, Sazi Sandi for Fouché, Adré Smith for Moerat, JD Schickerling for Evans, Ruan Ackermann for Theunissen (all 44 mins); Dewaldt Duvenage for Ungerer (59 mins).

REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (Italy)