RaboDirect Pro12: Munster come on strong in second half to beat Zebre 43-21
A second-half resurgence from Munster ensured a 43-21 victory and denied Zebre their first ever RaboDirect Pro12 win.
Last Updated: 14/09/13 2:31pm
Zebre went in at half-time 18-9 ahead after tries from Luciano Orquera and
Andrea Macini, but scores from Paddy Butler, CJ Stander (two) and then Ian Keatley helped the Irish province to an ultimately convincing 43-21 success.
Two JJ Hanrahan penalties gave Munster an early lead but Orquera halved the
deficit and then crossed for the opening try after catching Munster off guard
with a quick tap penalty.
Hanrahan brought his side back within a point but hooker Macini surprisingly
popped up on the end of a flowing move and outpaced Munster full-back Hurley to score.
Half-time substitute James Downey quickly won a penalty from which Hanrahan cut the deficit and it sparked a dramatic second-half comeback.
Butler's try and Hanrahan's conversion put Munster 19-18 up, and a barnstorming run through the defence from Stander afforded the visitors some breathing space.
Filippo Ferrarini wasted a three-on-one chance to bring Zebre back into the game and, after South African back-rower Stander had put the game out of reach, replacement fly-half Ian Keatley converted his own try to round off Munster's win.
