Munster lose URC opener at home, SA franchises complete perfect weekend

Jamie Dobie scored two tries on his 100th appearance for Glasgow as the Warriors came from behind to beat Munster 26-20 in their opening game of the new United Rugby Championship season at Thomond Park.

JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty to give Munster an early lead before Glasgow – who had topped the table at the end of the regulation season before losing to the Bulls in the semi-finals at Murrayfield – had Ollie Smith sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on after nine minutes.

Ben O’Connor scored the opening try for Munster in the 14th minute when he got away on the overlap before Dobie put Glasgow on the board just after the half-hour following a maul.

Munster, though, took a 17-7 lead into the break after Michael Milne’s close-range score and Hanrahan again made the conversion.

Nathan McBeth scored a second try for the Warriors after 52 minutes when he went over in the corner, but Hanrahan slotted another penalty just before the hour to restore Munster’s lead to six points.

After summer signing Bayley Kuenzle made his competitive Glasgow debut when coming off the bench, Glasgow edged in front for the first time in the 68th minute when George Horne went over after Dobie had broken towards the line, and then converted his own try. Dobie wrapped things up when he barged through again in the corner with four minutes left to secure a bonus point.

Elsewhere, the Sharks opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with an impressive 41-24 win over Ospreys at Kings Park, where 20-year-old Luan Giliomee scored a try in each half.

The home side, who missed out on the play-offs last season, had made a fast start, with three tries inside the opening 30 minutes. Captain Nick Hatton finished off a sweeping passing move before Manu Tshituka crashed over and full-back Giliomee then showed great pace to burst clear.

Ospreys rallied with a try from winger Luke Morgan before Lili Bester added another for the South Africans when he collected a grubber kick into the corner, and Vusi Moyo again added the extras.

Sam Parry barged over off a lineout maul in added time as the Sharks took a 28–14 lead into the break.

Australian Liam Wright darted through to score a debut try for the Welsh side five minutes after the restart, but the conversion attempt from Lawson Creighton was wide.

Moyo slotted over two penalties to further extend Sharks’ advantage before Giliomee got his second try, going over in the corner, in the 67th minute. Iestyn Hopkins then added a late consolation try to secure Ospreys a bonus point following a break by Kieran Hardy.

Meanwhile, last season’s URC finalists Pretoria Bulls thrashed Zebre 47-13 in Parma.

The South African side ran in seven tries in total, having opened the scoring with a penalty try, and after cruising to a 21-6 half-time lead they remained relentless after the break.

Matteo Canali was shown a yellow card after illegally stopping a driving maul, leading to the penalty try, and although Tommaso Allan’s two kicks briefly made it 7-6 that was the closest the hosts came.

Reinhardt Ludwig and Paul de Wet both touched down before the break, while shortly after the interval Ruan Vermaak and Harold Vorster also crossed.

Alessandro Fusco scored Zebre’s only try after the Italian side won an attacking scrum and led the kick chase.

Ludwig added his second try with four minutes remaining and Zac Burger capitalised on a drive for the line after the hooter had gone to complete the scoring.

In Wales, Cardiff came out on top in the first Welsh derby of the season with a 21-15 victory at Scarlets.

The pivotal moment came late in the second half when full-back Blair Murray’s kick was deemed to have gone out on the full after hitting the touchline, confirmed by the television match official.

Cardiff took full advantage of the offensive position they were handed with Evan Lloyd diving over for the game’s fifth and final try.

Joe Roberts had given Scarlets, for whom vice-captain Ryan Elias made his 200th appearance, a sixth-minute lead before Dan Thomas was driven over from a maul.

Murray’s individual try put the hosts ahead again but Taine Basham touched down to give Cardiff a 14-12 half-time lead.

Scarlets regained the advantage with Joe Hawkins’ penalty before Lloyd had the final, decisive say.