John Hodnett makes ground for Munster during their game against Zebre
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 win over Munster as they recovered from a 13-point half-time deficit to cause a major upset by defeating the Irish province 42-33 in the United Rugby Championship match between the teams at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
The Italian side ran in six tries to clinch a bonus point and end a 14-game losing streak in the competition since they drew 22-22 with Cardiff in November 2023.
Munster, narrow winners over Connacht in their season opener, had won all 20 of their previous meetings with Zebre and were unbeaten against Italian opposition in more than a decade before their loss in Parma.
The 2023 champions had a bonus point in the bag by the interval as tries from Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley and Bryan Fitzgerald helped their side lead 28-15.
Jacopo Trulla and Alessandro Fusco were the first-half try-scorers for the hosts.
Zebre put the next 24 points on the board as Trulla and Fusco registered their second tries and Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli also crossed for the home side.
Shay McCarthy’s touchdown, followed by Tony Butler’s fourth conversion, gave Munster hope of a recovery but a late Giacomo Da Re penalty eased any nerves for the home side and ensured that their opponents left empty-handed.
Giovanni Montemauri contributed a penalty and three conversions for the victors, who had lost 22-17 away to Cardiff on the 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.
