WATCH: Brilliant Munster Rugby stun Stormers to claim coveted URC crown in Cape Town
MUNSTER Rugby scored a famous United Rugby Championship final win after easing past the Stormers 19-14 in a nail-biting sell-out final played at DHL Stadium on Saturday night.
Flanker John Hodnett's try five minutes from time - converted from the touchline by out-half Jack Crowley - sealed a deserved success for Munster and the the province's first piece of silverware in 12 seasons.
This was Munster's fourth league success played out in front of a sell-out crowd in Cape Town and the province's first final success since their 2011 win over Leinster at Thomond Park.
The path to claiming the title has seen a remarkable turnaround in Munster's season after the side had lost five of their opening seven competitive fixtures this term.
Munster had lost their previous three Championship finals, against Glasgow in 2015, Scarlets in 2017 and Leinster in 2021.
Flanker Deon Fourie's try early in the second half, converted by Manie Libbok, looked to have swayed an intense and ferociously-committed encounter Stormers' way before Hodnett pounced.
Munster had been the better side through the opening half, dominating possession and territory, but their five point half-time lead, 12-7, seemed like scant reward for their exciting display.
Munster also had two tries chalked off during that opening 40, following consultation with the TMO.
Stormers out-half Libbok scored a interception try he also converted to help the home side into a 7-0 lead against the run of play.
However, resilient Munster led by five points at the break following touchdowns from hooker Diarmuid Barron and wing Calvin Nash while Jack Crowley added one conversion.
Both sides had their chances in a game where there was so little between the teams, yet ultimately Munster had enough in the tank to deliver silverware for their more than 2,000 travelling fans and confirm the impressive impact their coaching team, under head coach Graham Rowntree and including assistants Mike Prendergast, Denis Leamy and Andy Kyriacou, has made this season.
STORMERS: Damian Willemse, Angelo Davids, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff (capt), Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Ruben van Heerden, Marvin Orie, Deon Fourie, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos. Replacements: Ben-Jason Dixon for Dayimani (50 mins), Willie Engelbrecht for Fourie (57 mins), JJ Kotze for Dweba, Neethling Fouche for Malherbe (both 62 mins), Ali Vermaak for Kitshoff (72 mins), Paul de Wet for Jantjies (66 mins), Marcel Theunissen for van Heerden, Clayton Blommetjies for Zas (both 78 mins).
MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: RG Snyman for O’Mahony (34 mins), Niall Scannell for Barron, Josh Wycherley for Loughman, Roman Salanoa for Archer (62 mins), Ben Healy for Frisch (63 mins), Craig Casey for Murray (63 mins), Alex Kendellen for Kleyn (69 mins), Keith Earls for Nash (70 mins).
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)