Munster too good for Sharks in Limerick
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks started their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 21-34 defeat to defending champions Munster in Limerick on Saturday.
The Irish province scored five tries on their way to the bonus point win with Joey Carbery producing a man-of-the-match performance.
Both teams had their fair share of the ball in the opening quarter, but it was Munster who opened the scoring when Edwin Edogbo stretched over for a try in the 21st minute. Carbery made it a seven-point lead with the conversion.
Munster were in again a few minutes later with Carbery being the architect on attack and hooker Diarmuid Barron finishing off a great play. Carbery added the extras with the conversion.
The Sharks finally got their first points when Curwin Bosch broke through the Munster defence before feeding the ball to Werner Kok to run in for a try. Bosch also produced a great conversion to turn it into seven points.
However, Munster had the final say of the first half after the Sharks failed to deal with Antoine Frisch’s chip kick with the Munster centre putting downward pressure on the loose ball to score his team’s third try.
Carbery converted the score and at half-time, it was 21-7 to Munster.
Munster extended their lead early in the second half with a Carbery penalty.
The Sharks stayed in touch after a quick throw-in after a 50-22 resulted in a try for Phepsi Buthelezi. Bosch made it a 10-point ball game with his conversion.
The Sharks then suffered a setback in the 64th minute when scrumhalf Cameron Wright was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
With constant pressure inside the Sharks’ 22, wing Andrew Conway eventually got Munster’s bonus-point score.
Ethan Coughlan got another one for Munster with a few minutes left on the clock before the Sharks had the final say with an Aphelele Fassi try.
Man of the match: The award goes to Munster flyhalf Joey Carbery who had a great outing with ball in hand. He gave the Sharks plenty of problems when he ran at them and his vision for the gap was there for all to see.
The scorers:
For Munster:
Tries: Edogbo, Barron, Frisch, Conway, Coughlan
Cons: Carbery 3
Pen: Carbery
For Sharks:
Tries: Kok, Janse van Rensburg, Fassi
Cons: Bosch 3
Yellow card: Cameron Wright (Sharks. 64′ – foul play, high tackle)
Teams:
Munster: 15 Shane Daly; 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Calvin Nash; 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Ethan Coughlan; 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Shay McCarthy.
Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 George Cronje, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Emile van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Aphelele Fassi
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Erskine (Ireland) & Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
