Munster Rugby open defence of URC title with bonus point win over ...

21 Oct 2023

Limerick Leader

MUNSTER Rugby kicked off the defence of their United Rugby Championship title with an exciting 34-21 bonus point victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks before an official attendance of 11,239 at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

The champions bagged five tries, three in the opening half, in scoring a deserved victory over the South African visitors in favourable playing conditions.

Munster led 21-7 at half-time, thanks to tries from Edwin Edogbo, Diarmuid Barron and Antoine Frisch, all converted by Joey Carbery.

A 66th minute try from Andrew Conway sealed the bonus point, on his 150th appearance for the province, while exciting young scrum-half Ethan Coughlan also crossed the whitewash for the home side late on.

It was Conway's 50th try in the red of Munster.

The game also saw Josh Wycherley make his 50th appearance for the province, while signing Alex Nankivell made his debut off the bench.

Defending BKT United Rugby Championship Champions Munster Rugby have lost just one of their last 12 fixtures in the Championship, a 26-38 defeat to Glasgow at Thomond Park last March.

That loss was in their most recent URC game in Limerick and it remains that the province has not lost successive matches at the venue since 2015.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Shay McCarthy; Joey Carbery, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (Capt), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Scott Buckley, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Brian Gleeson, Neil Cronin, Alex Nankivell, Fionn Gibbons.

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS: Boeta Chamberlain, Werner Kok, Murray Koster, Francois Venter (Capt), Marnus Potgieter, Curwin Bosch, Cameron Wright, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Kerron van Vuuren, Coenie Oosthuizen, Emile van Heerden, Reniel Hugo, James Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi, George Cronje. Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Hanro Jacobs, Vincent Tshituka, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Zee Mkhabela, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Aphelele Fassi.

REFEREE: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

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