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.
“Relief. We had to win that,” Munster coach Rowntree remarked after the comeback win. “I’m chuffed with how we stuck in the game.”
Munster are in Italy to face Zebre, themselves beaten away to Cardiff on Saturday, next weekend.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell (Seán O’Brien, ‘71), Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly (Seán O’Brien, HIA, ’36, Shane Daly ‘41); Billy Burns (Tony Butler ’53), Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, ’50), Diarmuid Barron, captain, (Niall Scannell, ’62), John Ryan (Oli Jager ’50); Jean Kleyn (Jack O’Donoghue, ’55), Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn (Alex Kendellen, ’50), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
