Zebre comeback secures first-ever win over Munster

Zebre (15) 42

Tries: Trulla 2, Fusco 2, Licata, Prisciantelli Cons: Montemauri 3 Pens: Montemauri, Da Re

Munster (28) 33

Tries: Coombes 2, Haley, Fitzgerald, McCarthy Cons: Butler 4

Zebre secured a stunning first-ever triumph complete Munster arsenic they recovered from a 13-point half-time shortage to origin a awesome upset by defeating nan Irish state 42-33 successful nan United Rugby Championship lucifer betwixt nan teams astatine Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

The Italian broadside ran successful six tries to clinch a prize constituent and extremity a 14-game losing streak successful nan title since they drew 22-22 pinch Cardiff successful November 2023.

Munster, constrictive winners complete Connacht successful their play opener, had won each 20 of their erstwhile meetings pinch Zebre and were unbeaten against Italian guidance successful much than a decade earlier their nonaccomplishment successful Parma.

The 2023 champions had a prize constituent successful nan container by nan interval arsenic tries from Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley and Bryan Fitzgerald helped their broadside lead 28-15.

Jacopo Trulla and Alessandro Fusco were nan first-half try-scorers for nan hosts.

Zebre put nan adjacent 24 points connected nan committee arsenic Trulla and Fusco registered their 2nd tries and Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli besides crossed for nan location side.

Shay McCarthy's touchdown, followed by Tony Butler's 4th conversion, gave Munster dream of a betterment but a precocious Giacomo Da Re punishment eased immoderate nerves for nan location broadside and ensured that their opponents near empty-handed.

Giovanni Montemauri contributed a punishment and 3 conversions for nan victors, who had mislaid 22-17 distant to Cardiff connected nan opening weekend.

Zebre: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Jacopo Trulla, Giulio Bertaccini, Luca Morisi,Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Alessandro Fusco, Danilo Fischetti (CAPT), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera, Matteo Canali, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata

Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Patricio Baronio, Scott Gregory, Giacomo Da Re

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jack Daly, Jack O'Donoghue, Conor Murray, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy.