Munster were far from comfortable as they defeated a courageous Zebre side 31-12 with a late scoring spree at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
A hard-fought bonus-point win to keep Munster in second place of Guinness PRO14 Conference A! #MUNvZEB #SUAF ? pic.twitter.com/i5eZtKPfAX
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) March 23, 2024
The home side were expected to win with ease against Conference A’s bottom team but Zebre made it anything but easy.
The Italian team got off to a flying start as Jamie Elliot scored a try in the left corner after just eight minutes, with the kick missed it remained 5-0.
However. 10 minutes on at it was 12-0 to the visitors as a kick in behind the Munster defence allowed Roberto Tenga to touch down for his side’s second try of the evening, which Carlo Canna converted.
The hosts were made to wait until just before the interval to get on the scoreboard as Jeremy Loughman got over through a rolling maul. The conversion was missed leaving the half-time score at 12-5 to the away side.
12 minutes after the break and Munster were level thanks to a Rhys Marshall try from another maul. Sub Tyler Bleyendaal knocked over the kick from the touchline to make it 12 all.
Chris Cloete was sin-binned before the hour mark, and the home side were lucky not to go behind again as Zebre missed some kickable penalties.
However, Darren Sweetnam put the men in Red ahead with less than a quarter of the game remaining as he finished in the corner. The kick was
missed but for the first time in the game Munster were in front.
Less than 10 minutes on and they increased their lead curtsy of another sub Niall Scannell and another maul to secure the bonus-point.
The extras were taken well, and Mike Haley rounded off the comeback with a fifth try late on, again the conversion was scored to make it 31-12 at full-time.
The win leaves Munster in second-place in Conference A, three points adrift of leaders Glasgow with three game to go. On the other hand, Zebre remain bottom with only three wins this season.
Match Highlights:
