Defending URC champions, Munster, commence the defence of their title tonight when the Sharks, eliminated in the quarterfinals last season, visit Thomond Park (5:15pm KO).

Munster commenced the defence of their URC title with a bonus point victory over the Sharks at Thomond Park tonight, the academy players impressing.

Six academy players were named in the squad, with try scorer, Edwin Edogbo among those exciting the home supporters.

More recognisable faces, in the form of Joey Carbery and Andrew Conway, both back in the fold, also staked their claims with reliable performances, lit up by special moments.  

Early on, Munster were indebted to full-back, Shane Daly, for a try-saving intervention to stop Sharks scrum half, Cameron Wright from scuttling over unopposed, Daly defending from the front as the men in red won a penalty and cleared up field.

The Sharks went close again, an attacking lineout leading to a charge from prop, Ntuthuko Mchunu, but the ball was lost forward, and the opportunity went begging.

If the opening quarter was cagey, the second started with a bang as Munster muscled over in the twenty-first minute.

Combative attacking tempo pinned the Spingbok side in, and conducted by young, scrum half, Ethan Coughlan, one of six academy players in Munster’s squad, he freed, lock, Edwin Edogbo barrelling to the try line for the first score, converted by Joey Carbery for a seven-pointer.

Soon, the champions struck again, this a flowing move instigated by an instinctive pass of magic from an on-the-floor Carbery, releasing flanker, Alex Kendellen, who calmly picked out a super support line from hooker, Diarmuid Barron, who bustled in under the sticks, Carbery tacking on an easy two.

Two minutes out from the interval and the Sharks struck back, though, punishing a narrow Munster defence which was gleefully prized open by a burst of acceleration from fly-half, Curwin Bosch, who had winger, Werner Kok to his right for an easy finish.  Bosch brilliantly converted for 14-7.

Momentum for new Coach, the returned John Plumtree, was swiftly squandered as infuriatingly cheap cough up of the ball gave Carbery licence to roam, his pass to Antoine Frisch then saw the centre chip and chase it all the way, capitalising on a few fortuitous bounces to score Munster’s third try of the night.

Unerringly, Carbery slotted the extras to restore Munster’s fourteen-point buffer at the break, much to Thomond Park’s delight.

Into the second half, Carbery added a penalty to extend the hosts’ advantage, Munster’s pack fronting up physically and the scoreboard yielding fruit, subsequently.

Yet, the Sharks were far from lying down and half-time substitute, Johan Ranse van Rensburg scored their second try, after a quick tap from the alert scrum half, Cameron Wright and flanker, Phepsi Buthelezi with a sublime offload to the replacement who dotted it down.

Bosch landed the kick for a ten-point margin, 24-14.

All hands went to the pump for Munster, the returning Andrew Conway with a big tackle on Kok on his 150^th club appearance, denying the winger a second.

Wright then went to the sin bin for head-to-head contact, allowing Munster easy entry back into the Sharks’ twenty-two as they sought a bonus-point securing try.

With debutant, Shay McCarthy going close, Graham Rowntree’s men evaded the danger of white line fever as the ball was whisked wide to the opposing wing, Conway cruising into the corner for a milestone fiftieth try, the ultimate gift from the game on his return from a year-long injury.

Conway had also bagged the fourth, and bonus point, score, so despite Carbery kicking wide, Thomond was an even happier crowd following the try.

Coughlan rounded off Munster’s scoring spree, as the number nine scurried into the corner after substitute, John Ryan made great ground, Carbery denied the conversion against the upright.

Sharks replacement, Ahelele Fassi gathered a fine Bosch chip and sauntered in for Sharks third score, the conversion bringing the final score to 21-14.

A good, solid opening performance by the champions with maximum points banked, the academy system shining and plenty for Rowntree to refine during this week’s training.

The Sharks stay on Irish shores this week as they prepare for a challenging trip to Dublin next Saturday where they will face Leinster at the RDS (4:55pm KO).

Despite leaving empty-handed, lots to encourage them from a spirited opening display.

Munster, meanwhile, are on the road themselves travelling to Italy to face Benetton Treviso, at the Stadio Monigo next Sunday afternoon (2pm KO).