Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today’s URC final in Cape Town as Munster take on the DHL Stormers.
Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens at the DHL Stadium, where kick-off is at 5.30pm Irish time.
There’s plenty of good reading on The 42 to get stuck into ahead of kick-off, starting with Gavan Casey’s big match preview, which you can find here.
Rarely has a sports organisation’s history been so replete with victories that made virtually no sense at the time other than the fact that they were achieved by the very team that pulled them off; and yet Munster have pulled a Munster so many times since 1978 that many people expect them to win today’s URC final against the reigning-champion Stormers in their own backyard, where the South Africans have lost just once since December 2021.
Sinead Farrell has traced Gavin Coombes’ path from Skibbereen to the Munster first team, and you read the article here.
He has been in and out of selection on the Ireland squad, with two international caps to his name so far. He was sent back to Munster midway through Ireland’s autumn campaign last year, and now, he had been stung again. But even in the face of another setback, he produced another answer.
That fight in Coombes was forged at the Skibbereen Rugby club. He’s the first man from the club to earn a senior cap for Ireland, and this weekend, he’s seeking glory with Munster in the URC final against the Stormers.
When he steps onto the field in Cape Town for the 5.30pm kick-off, he’ll have the support of everyone from home who offered a hand in his development.
And here’s a look at Peter O’Mahony’s long wait to lift a trophy with Munster:
There would have been times this season, when Munster were struggling for form in the early days of Rowntree’s reign, where a shot at silverware might have felt as far away as ever.
It has been a season of transition as Rowntree and his all-new coaching team looked to put their own stamp on things. Training has become faster, the gameplan is now more ambitious and the team has been shaken up – at different stages across the year, senior players such as Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls have been dropped for key fixtures. It is testament to O’Mahony’s continued high levels of performance that he has remained central to Rowntree’s plans, the senior figure in a young back row alongside Gavin Coombes (25) and John Hodnett (24).
Munster are in the building. How are the nerves, Munster fans?
Good, solid eye contact between the two captains at the coin toss.
Just 10 minutes to kick-off in Cape Town. Time to put your predictions in the comment section.
Kick-off
2mins: Munster get us underway in Cape Town but the Stormers win an early penalty. The pitch at the DHL Stadium not in the best nick, cutting up already as the Stormers maul forward on the halfway line.
Manie Libbok chips in behind but Mike Haley does well to clean up.
TRY STORMERS – Libbok
7mins: Stormers 7 Munster 0
Oh no. After a confident start by Munster, Libbok intercepts a loose Antoine Frisch pass to run it home from halfway. The Stormers 10 converts his own try and the home side take an early 7-0 lead.
TRY MUNSTER – Barron
11mins: Stormers 7 Munster 5
What a response from Munster. Jack Crowley kicks to the corner, Tadhg Beirne wins the lineout and Munster win another penalty from the maul. At the second attempt, Beirne claims again and Munster drive at the line on the shortside, and this time Diarmuid Barron crashes over. Crowley pulls the conversion wide, but Munster will be delighted to be on the scoreboard after that early setback.
Bit of kick-tennis going on at the moment. Meanwhile, here’s that Diarmuid Barron try:
.@Munsterrugby claw one back immediately đź‘€#STOvMUN | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/GLYiWRrxHy
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) May 27, 2023
19mins: Stormers 7 Munster 5
Nice hands from Munster as they go through the phases on the edge of the Stormers 22. The ball is eventually knocked forward but with penalty advantage Crowley recovers and slips through with some great footwork. He’s stopped short of the tryline but Munster get the penalty for offside and Evan Roos heads for the sin bin. Crowley kicks to the corner and Munster have the 5m lineout.
Beirne wins it, Munster drive forward and Gavin Coombes goes for the line – TMO time!
NO TRY!
Big call. The on-field decision was try but after a TMO review it’s crossed off for a double-movement by Coombes. Don’t know about that one, to be honest, but Peter O’Mahony doesn’t put up too much of an argument.
22mins: Stormers 7 Munster 5
Munster will be pretty happy with how things are going so far, despite trailing by two points. The visitors are playing a lot of rugby in the Stormers half and causing the Stormers problems at the maul.
25mins: Stormers 7 Munster 5
Another chance for Munster. Malakai Fekitoa makes some big carries down the middle before Mike Haley chips in behind and chases down the ball. It spills to Frisch, and Daly is on hand to dive over but the ball was knocked on, so we go back for a Stormers scrum, and the home side clear their lines.
We might have another Munster try, but we’re going to have a TMO check for Peter O’Mahony’s pass to Haley.
27mins: Stormers 7 Munster 5
That didn’t take long. Munster see a second try chalked off after Mike Haley darts over in the corner. The check was on Peter O’Mahony’s offload to the Munster fullback, and it’s clearly gone forward. Munster need to start making these chances count.
TRY MUNSTER! – Nash
31mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Munster finally have their second try and it’s a brilliant piece of play. The province show good hands to keep ball alive before Crowley kicks wide to Calvin Nash, and the ball bounces kindly to the Munster winger, who is able to step inside and finish. Crowley converts and Munster lead by five.
32mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Fekitoa putting in some big hits now. The Stormers can’t get out of their own half. The South African side have made 89 tackles to Munster’s 22.
The game is stopped so Peter O’Mahony can get some treatment. Hopefully he can continue, looks in a bit trouble but not clear what the problem is.
34mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
O’Mahony is off for a HIA. RG Snyman comes in for the Munster captain, so Beirne will shift to the backrow.
38mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
A big, big moment from Munster. The Stormers are hammering away five metres out but Barron turns the ball over and Munster exit.
40mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
The Stormers are back in the Munster 22, driving forward at the maul, before moving the ball infield. Roos skips through a gap but Hodnett manages to make the tackle. Libbok then kicks to the corner on advantage, Nash gathers and we go back for the Stormers penalty.
Libook decides to go to the corner and we’ll have another Stormers lineout.
40mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Super defence from Munster to knock the Stormers maul back and turn the ball over. They’ll take a five-point lead into the break. It could, and probably should, be more.
HALF TIME: Stormers 7 Munster 12
The second half has just kicked-off in Cape Town. RG Snyman gives away a cheap penalty and the Stormers will go for the posts.
43mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Libbok is off-target from the tee. A big let off for Munster there.
46mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Just to confirm, Peter O’Mahony didn’t return from his HIA so RG Snyman has stayed on the pitch. We’re currently waiting for a Stormers lineout in the Munster 22 as a couple of players receive treatment.
48mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
The Stormers win the lineout and move the ball coast-to-coast, the attack breaks down but we go back for a Stormers penalty. Libbok kicks to the corner again, the Stormers maul forward but Munster hold them out. Libbok moves the ball wide but Haley makes a big hit on Willemse and Munster clear the danger.
49mins: Stormers 7 Munster 12
Mike Haley receives a yellow card for a tackle on Angelo Davids. Big blow for Munster, Haley had been having a superb game.
TRY (Fourie) – Stormers 14 Munster 12
52mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
That had been coming. Munster giving away far too many penalties now. This time the Stormers maul gets a good shove and Fourie spills over. Libbok converts, and the Stormers lead by two against 14-man Munster. Game on.
57mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
Calvin Nash in a bit of bother, down with a leg injury, but he looks ok to continue. We restart with a Munster lineout which Snyman collects one-handed. Munster find it hard to break into the Stormers 22 but Daly eventually slips inside. Munster continue to build pressure and Dweba is then pinged for offside. Crowley goes for the corner and Munster get set for the 5m lineout.
58mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
Kleyn claims the lineout but Stormers win the penalty – Jeremy Loughman pinged for obstruction. That’s a really frustrating one for Munster, and a big opportunity missed.
62mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
It’s getting a little loose out there now. Stormers pin Munster back on their own line but the ball is turned over and Libbok makes a mess of two attempts to take possession, allowing Beirne turn the ball over again. Munster now going through the phases just inside the Stormers half – there are a lot of very tired bodies out there.
63mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
In scenes nobody wants to see, the stadium DJ plays Sweet Caroline during a scrum. Meanwhile Munster have changed their entire front row.
67mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
Munster under huge pressure but Fekitoa wins a brilliant turnover after a great tackle by Nash. It’s all Stormers at the moment.
Craig Casey has come in for Conor Murray, and Ben Healy is also on, replacing Antoine Frisch.
69mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
An incredible defensive effort from Munster as they hold the Stormers out again. Fekitoa making some really important tackles before Nash is cool under pressure to deal with a Libbok kick in behind. Healy clears and the Stormers will come at Munster again. This is getting very, very tense.
71mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
More changes for Munster as Keith Earls comes in for Calvin Nash, who put in a huge shift. Munster almost lose possession on halfway but Beirne scrambles well to keep possession, only for Munster to then knock the ball on.
72mins: Stormers 14 Munster 12
The Ulster-bound Steven Kitshoff gets a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch for the last time as a Stormers player. Play resumes with a Stormers scrum on halfway, and Munster under a bit of pressure at the setpiece since making those front-row changes.
TRY (Hodnett) – Stormers 14 Munster 19
78mins: Stormers 14 Munster 19
A brilliant, brilliant try from Munster. It all started with a big play from Coombes, and then Munster patiently go through the phases, showing brilliant hands to keep the ball alive before Daly slips in Hodnett. Crowley nails the conversation and Munster lead by five. Just superb stuff from Graham Rowntree’s side.
79mins: Stormers 14 Munster 19
Munster think they’ve won a penalty but a TMO review shows Crowley has knocked the ball from Jantjies hand at the back of the ruck, so the Munster 10 gets a yellow card.
Libbok’s kick isn’t great so Stormers have the lineout on the edge of the Munster 22.
80mins: Stormers 14 Munster 19
Another Stormers penalty as Haley slips and goes off his feet. Stormers will get another chance from the lineout on the Munster 22. This could be last chance saloon.
FULL TIME: Stormers 14 Munster 19
Wow. Munster have their first trophy since 2011, beating the Stormers in Cape Town to claim the URC title. They were under pressure in the dying minutes but Tadhg Beirne – who else – comes up with the turnover.
Brilliant scenes at full time, and a brilliant win for Munster. What a season for Graham Rowntree’s team!
A thoroughly deserved win for Munster in Cape Town. We’ll have a full match report and all the reaction from Cape Town on The 42 throughout the evening and across the rest of the weekend.
Thanks for joining our live coverage today.
