Zebre …………… 42 Munster………. 33

By JAMES LYONS

ZEBRE, beaten in all 20 previous games by Munster, pulled off one of the biggest shocks in URC history by staging an almighty second half comeback against the 2023 champions.

Munster, narrow winners over Connacht last week, were unbeaten against Italian opposition for more than a decade and head coach Graham Rowntree was furious after leading 28-15 at half-time only to concede four tries.

“That wasn’t good enough. We lost our way in the third quarter,” said Rowntree. “A spirited, brilliant performance from Zebre. Credit to them, they didn’t stop playing. They took their opportunities.”

The Italian side, who had lost 22-17 away to Cardiff on the opening weekend, ran in six tries to clinch a bonus point and end a 14-game losing streak in the competition dating back to last November when they drew 22-22 with Cardiff.

Munster had a bonus point in the bag by the interval with two tries from Gavin Coombes and further scores from Mike Haley and Bryan Fitzgerald. Jacopo Trulla and Alessandro Fusco were the first half try scorers for Zebre who then put the next 24 points on the board. Trulla and Fusco registered their second tries and Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli also crossed for the home side with Giovanni Montemauri kicking a penalty and three conversions.

Shay McCarthy’s touchdown, followed by Tony Butler’s fourth conversion, gave Munster hope of a recovery but a late Giacomo Da Re penalty sealed victory.