
A RIP-ROARING URC opener – in which the teams shared ten tries and the lead changed hands on seven occasions – was won by Munster, 35-33, over Connacht at Thomond Park.
It was a thriller all the way through, one which the 15,700 attendance received exceptional value.
Ultimately, the contest was decided with a 70th minute equalising try from Shane Daly, converted from a tricky angle by Tony Butler.
Other home tries came from Alex Nankivell, Mike Haley, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes. Butler kicked the extras to one, and Billy Burns to the other three.
โRelief. We had to win that,” Munster coach Rowntree remarked after the comeback win. โI’m chuffed with how we stuck in the game.โ
Munster are in Italy to face Zebre, themselves beaten away to Cardiff on Saturday, next weekend.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell (Seรกn OโBrien, โ71), Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly (Seรกn OโBrien, HIA, โ36, Shane Daly โ41); Billy Burns (Tony Butler โ53), Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, โ50), Diarmuid Barron, captain, (Niall Scannell, โ62), John Ryan (Oli Jager โ50); Jean Kleyn (Jack OโDonoghue, โ55), Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhรกn Quinn (Alex Kendellen, โ50), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack OโDonoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seรกn OโBrien.