Munster 45-29 Zebre: Irish province move up to fifth in URC after bonus-point win

Munster jumped up to fifth in the United Rugby Championship table as they beat battling Zebre 45-29 in Cork.

Muhamed Hasa’s try had helped cut Munster’s advantage to 12-10.

Quinn and Shane Daly added second-half Munster tries with Thomas Dominguez, Geronimo Prisciantelli and Dylan de Leeuw replying for the visitors.

Zebre’s four tries also earned them a thoroughly deserved bonus point after an attacking display.

Leinster-bound double South Africa World Cup winner Snyman showed what Munster have been missing during his injury-affected time at the club as his burst set up Academy flanker Quinn’s sixth-minute try.

Haley then brushed past Zebre flanker Giacomo Ferrari to notch Munster’s second try as Tony Butler added the extras to increase the home side’s advantage to 12-0.

Zebre showed enterprise of their own to as centre Damiano Mazza’s run had the Munster defence frantically back pedalling before prop Hasa burst over the line from close range.

Prisciantelli’s conversion was followed by him kicking three more points in the 22nd minute to cut Munster’s lead to 12-10 after Quinn had been yellow carded.

Despite being down to 14 men, Munster notched their third try in the 26th minute as Alex Nankivell’s burst was finished off by Snyman’s long reach.

Back to their full complement, Munster added two further tries before the interval as wing O’Brien finished off a period of intense pressure to notch the bonus-point securing score before Craig Casey’s quick tap penalty set up centre Frisch’s score.

Casey was one of three Ireland squad members released for the contest with Tom Ahern starting in the second row and Jeremy Loughman named on the bench.

To their credit, Zebre continued with their all-out attacking philosophy after the break and were rewarded by replacement Dominguez’s try – although there was a strong suspicion of a forward pass.

Impressive full-back Prisciantelli then showed some impressive dribbling skills to touch down before replacement De Leeuw secured their bonus point as they continued their all-out attacking philosophy.

Munster wing Daly, who had had a try disallowed earlier for a knock on, completed the scoring in the final seconds.

Munster: Haley; O’Brien, Frisch, Nankivell, Daly; Butler, Casey; J Wycherley, N Scannell, Ryan; Ahern, Snyman; Quinn, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Clarke, Loughman, Archer, F Wycherley, O’Sullivan, Coughlan, R Scannell, O’Connor.

Zebre: Prisciantelli; Gregory, Morisi, Mazza, Gesi; Eden, Fusco; Rizzoli, Bigi, Hasa; Sisi, Krumov; Ferrari, Stavile, Licata (capt).

Replacements: Ribaldi, Taddei, Genovese, De Leeuw, Ruggeri, Dominguez, Trulla, Kaifa.

Referee: A Jones (Wales)