Munster suffered a 3-15 defeat at home to the Sharks on a disappointing night in Thomond Park.
A JJ Hanrahan kick into the corner from play after three minutes gave Munster some good territory as the Sharks could only clear to their 22. Munster won a number of penalties but after a 5m scrum tap, Nankivell went to collect the ball at pace but it went forward in the greasy conditions.
Sharks took the lead after 15 minutes when the South African side ran back a long kick downfield. The ball was kicked ahead which evaded JJ Hanrahan grasp and it was collected by Gianni Lombard who scored. The conversion was wide as Sharks took an early 0-5 lead.
Munster were guilty of some loose kicking and unforced errors but after 22 minutes Brian Gleeson and Jack O'Donoghue combined well to hold up one of the Sharks' big ball carriers. Unfortunately from the scrum, a bit of confusion between Gleeson and Ben O'Donovan put Gleeson under pressure before the Tipperary number eight spilled the ball in contact moments later.
Munster did get some reward as the first half drew to a close when JJ Hanrahan kicked three points to get the home side off the mark and leave Munster a two point deficit heading into the break.
Sharks extended their lead after 12 minutes played in the second half when they won a scrum against the head. Lombard kicked the three to give Sharks a 3-8 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for Munster as the Sharks scored their second try through Ivan van Zyl which was converted by Lombard.
Munster tried to get back into the game but the Sharks' defence held out as Clayton McMillan's men leave Thomond with no points.
Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Gordon Wood, Alex Nankivell, Rob Russell; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O’Donovan (O'Riordan 54'); Josh Wycherley (Loughman 46'), Marnus van der Merwe (L Barron 60'), Kieran Brookes (Ala'alatoa 57'); Evan O’Connell (E Edogbo 46'), Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo (Kendellen 46'), Jack O’Donoghue (C), Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Ala’alatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Gavin Coombes, Jake O’Riordan, Charlie O’Shea, Alex Kendellen.