Munster suffered their first defeat of the 2025/26 season as a spirited and physical second half showing from the Stormers saw the South African side come away with the win.

Munster were 21-6 ahead at the break thanks to tries from Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and John Hodnett but Clayton McMillan’s side failed to score in the second half as the Stormers used their power to get back into the game.

Despite the bitterly cold conditions at Thomond Park, both sets of players heated things up nicely with Munster having a chance to take the lead after just four minutes when Stormers’ Connor Evans was yellow carded for pulling the jersey of a Munster player off the ball. Crowley’s difficult kick was just wide.

Two minutes later, Jurie Matthee put the visitors in front with a well taken penalty from range.

However, Munster were over for their first try almost immediately after. Thaakir Abrahams carried well off first phase off a lineout. On the next phase, the ball went to Gavin Coombes who put captain Tadhg Beirne through a gap with the 2025 British and Irish Lion producing a brilliant dummy to get himself over the line next to the posts. Crowley’s conversion ensured a 7-3 lead for Munster.

The scrum dominance from a South African pack which was evident in the Aviva Stadium just seven days ago was replicated just after the 10-minute mark as the Stormers won a big scrum penalty which allowed Matthee to reduce the deficit to just one point with another well taken penalty. Unfortunately in the build up to this three-pointer from the Stormers, Jack O’Donoghue went off with a head injury as he was replaced by John Hodnett.

Munster took the initiative once again and approaching the midway point of the first half, the home side were pounding away at the Stormers line and a number of penalty concessions from the visitors saw referee Andrea Piardi brandish his second yellow card of the game as Marcel Theunissen was sent ot the bin. Clayton McMillan’s side opted for a tap and go with John Hodnett bashing his way over for Munster’s second try. Crowley’s conversion put Munster 14-6 in front.

Matthee had an opportunity to register another three points for the Stormers after a scrum penalty but his effort drifted wide.

Munster got their third try on the half-hour mark with an excellent move from McMillan’s men. A scrum in Munster’s own half saw Crowley give the ball to Tom Farrell who was running a reverse line. The powerful centre, who earned his first two Ireland caps during November’s International window, broke through the Stormers defence. Farrell passed to Casey who then delayed a pass as long as he could to Coombes. The big number eight powered his way towards the line where he was stopped just short. However, Casey was on the scene straight away and he spun a pass to Crowley as the Inishannon man showed his strength to power through the goalline defence for a try. Crowley converted his score to put Munster into a 21-6 lead.

Munster defended well throughout the remainder of the first half to secure a 21-6 lead at the break.

With just a few minutes on the clock in the second half, John Dobson made the decision to bring on five fresh forwards. The decision looked to have paid off immediately as a powerful Stormers maul seemed to have secured a try for the visitors but there was illegal movement in the maul in the build-up as Munster were awarded the penalty to relieve the pressure.

The Stormers upped the physicality which caused problems for Munster, particularly in search of that fourth try. However, Munster were able to match them as well with Beirne to the fore with a brilliant maul turnover at the 55-minute mark.

Approaching the midway point of the second half, the Stormers continued to show their physicality and this quickly led to the visitors’ first try with Adre Smith crashing over with Matthee converted. To compound matters, in the build up to that try, Coombes was sent to the bin for a trip on a Stormers players as Munster went down to 14 men with 20 minutes remaining.

Munster’s discipline started to get away from them which allowed the Stormers possession in Munster’s half. With the man advantage a crossfield kick found Dylan Maart and the winger made no mistake with the finish in the corner. The conversion from Matthee put just one point between the sides entering the final 10 minutes.

A mistake in the Munster backline saw Ruhan Nel race clear as he picked off an intercept to score under the posts which was converted by Matthee to put the Stormers 21-27 in front.

Two minutes later, Munster looked to have got their fourth try and in remarkable fashion. A penalty advantage for Munster saw the ball chipped over the top by Crowley. Daly tapped it back for Casey who then put in a crossfield kick for Tom Farrell who crossed for the try.

It all came down to Crowley’s conversion and with ice in the veins, the out-half nailed the kick. Unfortunatley for Munster, the TMO spotted a knock on in the build up so Munster went back to the penalty advantage which was kicked into the Stormers 22.

From the scrum, the Stormers won a penalty and although Munster managed to stop the maul and win a free-kick, the clock was already in the red as the referee blew for full time.

Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell (Kelly 62′), Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Milne 55′), Diarmuid Barron (Scannell 55′), John Ryan (Foxe 62′); Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley (Edogbo 58′); Tadhg Beirne (C), Jack O’Donoghue (Hodnett 10′), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, Ronan Foxe, Edwin Edogbo, John Hodnett, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.

BKT URC Round 6 Round-Up

This was Munster’s first defeat of the season.

Munster secured a losing bonus-point.

Munster’s next match is against Bath in the Champions Cup before face Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh a week later. Buy tickets here.