| Stormers (7) 14 |
| Tries: Libbok, Fourie Cons: Libbok 2 |
| Munster (12) 19 |
| Tries: Barron, Nash, Hodnett Cons: Crowley 2 |
A late transformed John Hodnett strive noticed Munster edge the Stormers 19-14 to win a fiercely contested United Rugby Championship Grand Remaining in Cape City.
The victory noticed the Irish province safe their first trophy since 2011.
Manie Libbok transformed his personal attempt to make it 7-0 however Diarmuid Barron and Calvin Nash crossed for Munster to provide them a 12-7 half-time lead.
Deon Fourie scored a transformed attempt to transfer Stormers forward however Hodnett went over with 5 minutes remaining.
A 5,000 robust Munster contingent travelled to Cape City and took their place in a sold-out 55,000 capability DHL Stadium to observe their workforce finish their 12-year trophy drought by seeing off the defending champions.
Stormers went into the sport as favourites regardless of Munster’s robust away type, which included wins on the highway over their ultimate opponents in spherical 17 of the common league season, plus Leinster and Glasgow Warriors within the knockout rounds.
It was an lively begin from Munster however a free go from centre Antoine Frisch was intercepted by Libbok, who sprinted in from distance and touched down earlier than including the extras.
It was not lengthy earlier than Graham Rowntree’s facet hit again, with hooker Barron steering a line-out maul over the road after which crashing over to deliver his facet again into the sport regardless of the conversion from Jack Crowley going extensive.
A yellow card for Stormers quantity eight Evan Roos appeared to place Munster within the ascendancy as they dominated territory and possession however struggled to transform this into factors, having two tries dominated out.
Simply earlier than the half-hour mark, Munster’s depth and diversified assault was rewarded with a strive from Nash who collected a skilful cross-kick from Crowley to provide his facet a deserved lead.
Stormers battled their method again into the sport simply earlier than the interval, however Munster’s spectacular defence resisted their efforts and the guests went in 5 factors to the great on the break, with all to play for.
Momentum swung in Stormers’ path within the early levels of the second half after Mike Haley was proven a yellow card for a collision with a Stormers attacker.
Stormers piled on the strain and a line-out maul resulted in Fourie arising with the ball, having crashed over the road, with Libbok’s conversion giving his facet the lead.
A tense ultimate quarter adopted, with either side locked in an arm-wrestle of back-and-forth motion as the 2 groups appeared sapped of power.
In the previous couple of minutes, Munster labored their method into the Stormers’ 22 and a well-worked transfer from Haley and an inside go from Shane Daly, despatched Hodnett by way of to burst over the try-line to win the sport for his facet, with Crowley including the extras to increase the successful margin to 5 factors.
Munster: 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: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, RG Snyman, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Keith Earls.
Stormers: Damian Willemse; Angelo Davids, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies; Steven Kitshoff (capt), Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe; Marvin Orie, Ruben van Heerden; Deon Fourie, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Ben-Jason Dixon, Willie Engelbrecht, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Moist, Clayton Blommetjies.