Sharks beat Munster in dramatic URC kicking shootout

United Rugby Championship quarter-final, following extra-time

Sharks (0) 24

Hooker, Fassi, and Mbatha Cons: Ja Hendrikse 3 Pen: Ja Hendrikse.

Munster (7) 24

Cons: Crowley 3 Pen: Murray

After the Sharks’ incredibly dramatic quarter-final of the United Rugby Championship in Durban ended 24-24 after extra-time, they defeated Munster 6-4 in a place-kick match.

The shootout, which involved six kicks from three players from each team, saw Rory Scannell’s missed penalty save the lives of Bradley Davids, Jaden Hendrikse, and Jordan Hendrikse, all convert their two shots at the posts.

With just two kicks each, Conor Murray and Jack Crowley scored for the visitors.

After twice before falling short of the quarter-finals, Sharks’ thrilling victory made it their first time to reach the final four of the competition.

Next weekend, they travel to South African rival Bulls, with Leinster hosting Glasgow in the other semi-final.

A converted Calvin Nash try gave the Irish province a 7-0 lead at Kings Park after the break, but a 10-7 lead was given early by an Ethan Hooker score and Jaden Hendrikse penalty.

Munster appeared to be in control after Josh Wycherley and Diarmuid Kilgallen scored on additional touchdowns, but Aphelele Fassi and Fez Mbatha headed in the opposite direction to give the hosts a three-point lead.

Munster were seven points ahead of them when Kilgallen weaved his way past three defenders to get the ball to Crowley, who sent a cross-field kick bouncing into the corner.

Makazole Mapimpi was supposed to have it, but it evaded him and was perfectly happy to finish it for Nash.

After the Sharks had been penalized at the breakdown, Crowley pulled his effort wide after adding the extras, but he was found guilty of a bad miss off the tee.

Jordan Hendrikse missed with a 45-meter penalty attempt, but Munster’s team struggled to put their pressure on themselves by putting up a lot of attacks in the first half as a result of a combination of regular handling errors and some obstinate defense.

However, when wing Hooker cut inside and sprinted past three defenders to score close to the posts, John Plumtree’s side were level within six minutes.

When Nash was stopped just short of the line, Jaden Hendrikse’s penalty gave his team a 1-0 lead, but Wycherley’s advantage was dwindling as a replacement prop dipped over with his first touch after accepting a flat pass from Craig Casey.

When substitute Mike Haley passed through, Mapimpi slipped, and Kilgallen won the race, scoring 14 points at the hour mark.

The Sharks went over for the score that would lower their arrears to four as a result of the pressure in the Munster scrum.

The visitors eventually moved the ball quickly to full-back Fassi, who crossed, but they were fortunate not to concede a penalty try.

The Sharks were ahead as their pressure indicated six minutes after regulation time ended. After the line-out, they gained a quick ball, and replacement hooker Mbatha bucked his way over.

Munster weren’t done, so Murray forced extra-time by successfully landing an enormous kick from just inside the Sharks half to bring the game level.

Mbatha, Mchunu, Jacobs, Van Heerden, Buthelezi, Venter, and Penxe are their replacements.

Munster: Abrahams, Nash, Farrell, Kilgallen, Crowley, Craig Casey, Milne, Niall Scannell, Archer, Kleyn, Beirne (capt), O’Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes, and Farrell.