Munster 28-14 South Africa: Sensational hosts post historic win at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork | Rugby Union News

Munster added another remarkable victory to their history by beating South Africa in Cork

A sensational Munster performance saw the Irish province post a historic victory over South Africa in sweeping rain at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. 

Back-three Shane Daly, Simon Zebo and Mike Haley each grabbed tries in a stirring display, while hooker Diarmuid Barron also scored via a rolling maul. Out-half Ben Healy, in awful conditions, also kicked magnificently, landing four from four.

The clash was the first time Munster and South Africa have faced each other in the professional era, and the first rugby match to be staged at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, the home of Cork GAA.

A sell-out attendance of 41,400 fans also made it the largest crowd ever to have watched a rugby match in the province of Munster, as they heralded victory over South Africa to sit aside conquests of New Zealand, Australia and the Moari All Blacks.

Pacy full-back Aphelele Faasi and back-row Sikhumbuzo Notshe scored tries for South Africa, who arrived with a squad containing 14 players boasting full Springbok Test caps.

The day belonged to Graham Rowntree’s Munster though, as a side shorn of eight players in Ireland international camp, and a further 12 through injury, posted a remarkable performance and victory.

Munster celebrate their historic victory over South Africa at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Munster, whose storied history vaunts five victories and two draws over touring sides New Zealand, Australia and the Maori All Blacks, became the first Irish side ever to beat the All Blacks in 1978.

It was an achievement not matched until the Ireland Women beat the Black Ferns at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and not matched by a men’s side until Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016.

The province have also beaten Australia three times (1967, 1992, 2010), registering victory over a world champion Wallabies side in 1992.

South Africa were left as the only touring side to have been beaten by Munster, with three meetings in 1951, 1960 and 1970 seeing SA pick up victories, the first two of which came in late fashion.

Fast forward 52 years from the last meeting between the pair, and Munster started at breakneck speed: wing Daly speeding in for a try in the corner in the third minute after debutant centre Antoine Frisch – who impressed hugely – produced a stunningly slick offload to Haley, who quickly released Daly into space.

Frenchman Antoine Frisch – signed from Bristol in the summer – was very impressive on debut

Healy drove the conversion over impeccably, boosting his confidence after a poor start to the season domestically, but after Munster scrummaged and defended strongly deep in their 22, it was the away side who would score next.

Shane Daly sprinted in for the opening try in virtually the first attack of the match

Playing off another five-metre scrum on penalty advantage, playmaker Johan Goosen produced an inch-perfect long pass for Fassi to claim on the run and dive in.

Goosen’s conversion just drifted over the bar to add the extras, but the next time he put boot to ball, it was to miss touch with a penalty from hand after South Africa had forced a scrum penalty against the head.

Instead it was Munster who scored next as the rain intensified.

Short-term signing from Wasps Kiran McDonald did well to claim an attacking lineout at the tail, and once penalty advantage was secured, electric scrum-half Paddy Patterson worked the ball to Healy, who produced a long pass for Zebo to dive splash over to much fanfare.

Simon Zebo dived over for Munster’s second in the opening half hour

Healy’s driven conversion from virtually on the touchline in heavy rain that followed was arguably the most impressive piece of play on the evening, such was the difficulty involved in landing the kick.

With half-time approaching, Munster should have been in for a third try when lovely passing set flanker and skipper Jack O’Donoghue accelerating into space, but his delay on the pass to Patterson was too long, meaning when did look to find support, he threw forward.

A Munster scrum penalty against the head improbably gave them one final chance in the first half when Healy kicked to the corner, from where Barron was on hand to score after a rolling maul – which included members of the backline – motored to the line.

Diarmuid Barron celebrates scoring Munster’s third try late in the first half

A penalty for offside with no time left following the restart handed South Africa possession before the break, and when a scrum penalty was forced, the visitors kicked to the corner for a big chance.

Munster’s last-ditch defence bordered on astonishing, however, as they somehow survived to go in two scores up amid phenomenally noisy support.

Into the second period, and it was Munster who started fast again: Healy executing a perfect grubber-kick assist for the chasing Haley to reach and score.

Mike Haley scored early in the second half for Munster’s third try

Healy’s conversion left Munster 28-7 up, but they lost Zebo to injury shortly after as 20-year-old Patrick Campbell replaced him.

Within two minutes, Campbell produced a try-saving tackle on wing Suleiman Hartzenberg, who thought he had scored before the intervention of the TMO, which showed Campbell had forced his opposite man into touch.

The TMO was called again to see if South Africa had scored past the hour mark, with Munster claiming a knock-on, but replays proved inconclusive.

The next two phases saw Munster reduced to 14 men, when replacement loosehead Liam O’Connor was sin-binned for persistent team infringements after a scrum penalty, and the powerful Notshe scored following the very next scrum drive.

South Africa forced a second penalty, but were stopped by Munster’s inspired defence

Munster rolled up their sleeves and socks to keep South Africa away from their 22 for the remainder of O’Connor’s yellow card period, and when tighthead Keynan Knox won a penalty at a scrum against the head deep in his own 22 with three minutes left, victory was all-but secured.

It left Munster to control possession in the South Africa half for the closing stages and kick out to ecstasy in the stands and on the pitch.

What’s next?

After a season of struggle in which Munster have lost five of their opening seven domestic fixtures in the United Rugby Championship (URC), and dealt with a catalogue of untimely injuries, Rowntree’s charges next face provincial rivals Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday, November 26 in a must-win clash (7.35pm GMT).

Off the back of a 19-16 defeat to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last Saturday, the Springboks next face France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, November 12, in an 8pm (GMT) kick-off.

Meanwhile, Andy Farrell’s Ireland next host Fiji at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 12, in a 1pm (GMT) kick-off for the second of their three autumn internationals this Test window.