Munster 21 Zebre 7
Two tries in the final 15 minutes from subs Alex Kendellen and Lee Barron proved the difference for Munster as they defeated Zebre in a rain-soaked Thomond Park on Saturday evening.
Munster started fast with Tom Farrell kicking a 50:22 to get the home side to put some early pressure on the visitors. Their pressure was rewarded a few moments later as Shane Daly crossed the line for the opening score of the game, with Zebre’s Giulio Bertaccini receiving a yellow card to add to Zebre’s woes.
In at the corner ✨pic.twitter.com/4hqPhjScNC
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 28, 2026
Munster failed to kick on from their early momentum, with Jack O’Donoghue knocking the ball on at the try line, capping off an unsuccessful run whilst Bertaccini was absent from the game. Munster’s inability to capitalise was proven to be damaging as Bautista Stavile went over for Zebre on a penalty advantage to send the two sides in at the break level at seven points each.
Munster came out in the second half looking shell-shocked and struggled to get any phases of play together. Their frustrations continued when Paddy Paterson had a try ruled out due to a knock-on. Alex Kendellen marked his return from injury with a try, touching down from close-range after a tough run of phases from the Munster forwards. JJ Hanrahan kept his perfect kicking going in the game with a second conversion.
Shortly after, fellow replacement Lee Barron scored Munster’s third try of the evening after pushing the Munster maul within touching distance of the line. Hanrahan would extend the lead to 14 points as the clock winded down. Barron had an opportunity to secure a bonus-point for Munster but was just pulled down short of the line by try-scorer Stavile.
Edwin Edogbo showed promise on his return to Munster after a few hectic weeks in the Ireland camp for him. Munster now head to South Africa to take on the Bulls and the Sharks in the URC once the Six Nations reaches its conclusion.
Line-Ups
Munster: Haley; Nash, Farrell, Kelly, Daly; Hanrahan, Patterson; Milne, Scannell, Ala’alatoa, Kleyn, F Wycherley, Coombes, O’Donoghue (capt), Gleeson.
Replacements: L Barron, J Wycherley, J Ryan, E Edogbo, Kendellen, Coughlan, T Wood, O’Brien.
Zebre: Montemauri; Batista, Bertaccini, Mazza, Gesi; Da Re, García; Pitinari, Ribaldi, Pieretto, Canali, Ortombina, Stavile, Locatelli, Ferrari (capt).
Replacements: Quattrini, Buofiglio, Franceschetto, Volpi, Bianchi, Dominguez, Roger Farias, Zanon.