Zebo Breaks Horgan’s Record As Munster Hammer Zebre

Simon Zebo became Munster’s all-time top try scorer as they recorded a much-needed 47-0 bonus point win over Zebre in the GUINNESS PRO12.

Simon Zebo’s second half brace at Thomond Park took him to 43 tries in 98 provincial appearances, thus ending Anthony Horgan’s 41-try record which stood for seven years.

Munster took a 14-0 lead into half-time having played into a very strong wind, with Ronan O’Mahony’s 26th-minute try adding to an early penalty try.

The home side failed to fully punish Zebre for successive yellow cards (Quintin Geldenhuys and Giulio Toniolatti), but they soon stormed clear thanks to a run of touchdowns from Zebo (2), CJ Stander and Conor Murray along with a second penalty try.

Zebre defended well in a slow-burning start, but Munster scored from their first real opportunity. Having turned down a central penalty, Munster drove forward ominously and Zebre captain Geldenhuys leaked an 11th minute penalty try for pulling down the maul.

The penalties kept coming against Zebre, hands in the ruck from Geldenhuys – in front of his posts – saw him sin-binned in the 23rd minute and Munster took immediate advantage.

From an advanced scrum position, the ball was moved wide for winger O’Mahony to go over in the left corner off man-of-the-match Rory Scannell’s pinpoint skip pass. Johnny Holland added a superb conversion from the touchline for 14-0.

A stamp on Tommy O’Donnell’s leg at a ruck earned Tonionlatti 10 minutes in the bin, yet Munster’s misfiring ways were summed up by a late maul chance that was quickly grounded.

Their clinical edge returned seven minutes into the second period, Darren Sweetnam leading a surge up the right wing and Zebo burned past Kayle van Zyl on the outside to raid in behind the posts.

Turnover ball in front of their posts led to a fine breakaway score just two minutes later, Sweetnam and Ian Keatley darting downfield to tee up full-back Zebo’s second seven-pointer in a row.

Fellow international returnees Stander and Murray then got in on the scoring act, with a brilliant break and offload from O’Donnell teeing up Stander, and then Murray sniped over off a lineout drive.

Out-half Holland’s ever-accurate left boot supplied the extras, putting 40 points between the sides, and struggling Zebre suffered their third yellow card when replacement front rower Bruno Postiglioni walked for repeated scrum infringements.

With the Italians’ set piece giving way again, Munster gained a second penalty try in the 73rd minute to top off an important result and performance following last week’s poor outing in Cardiff.