United Rugby Championship: Sharks 45-0 Munster – South African side put Irish province to the sword
Sharks scored seven tries as they secured an emphatic 45-0 victory over Munster in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship game in Durban.
Phepsi Buthelezi and Luan Giliomee crossed to help the South African side to a 12-0 lead and then second-half tries from Phatu Ganyane, Emile van Heerden, Le Roux Malan and Makazole Mapimpi completed a humbling afternoon for the Irish province.
It was a fifth defeat from 13 URC outings for Munster and just a fifth victory from the same number of games for Sharks.
The game represented a first meeting between the teams since last season’s epic quarter-final at King’s Park when the Sharks prevailed in a place-kicking competition, following a 24-24 draw after extra time.
Buthelezi barged over for the opening try after seven minutes after the hosts had executed a rolling maul from a line-out, with Hendrikse adding the extra two points.
Munster showed glimpses of enterprise in attack but were unable to breach the Sharks defence and it was the home team who extended their lead in the 28th minute.
Full-back Giliomee darted over from close range after accepting a clever inside pass in the corner, ensuring that his side went in 12 points to the good at the break.
Ten minutes after the interval prop Ganyane collected a pass from scrum-half Grant Williams and rumbled over from close range despite the efforts of two Munster defenders.
The bonus-point try arrived seven minutes later when van Heerden completed a flowing move by going over, Jordan Hendrikse kicking the third of his three conversions.
Malan added try number five with three minutes remaining, the score being awarded after it was adjudged that he managed to ground the ball after consultation with the Television Match Official [TMO].
The try-scoring spree continued when wing Mapimpi kicked through a loose ball and won the foot race to the line to touch down. Replacement Jordan Smith landed the additional two points with his second successful conversion.
As the clock went into the red, Mapimpi grabbed his second try when he went on another lung-busting run from inside his own half and stretched to score.
The Sharks are at home to Cardiff in their next match on Friday, while Munster will hope to bounce back when they continue their tour of South Africa by taking on the Bulls in Pretoria next Saturday.
Sharks: Luan Giliomee; Yaw Penxe, Le Roux Malan, Andre Estrehuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams; Phatu Ganyane, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs; Jason Jenkins, Emile van Heerden; Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, Nick Hatton.
Replacements: Eddie Swart, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Corne Rahl, Jannes Potgieter, Bradley Davids, Jean Smith, Hakeem Kunene.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan (capt), Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Tom Ahern; Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Paddy Patterson, Dan Kelly, Brian Gleeson.
