Brilliant Cashel king Barron to the fore for Munster as they blow away the Stormers

Munster dug deep with Tipperary native Diarmuid Barron leading by example, and his side produced one of those warrior style performances of old to secure a much needed win in South Africa which is very likely enough to secure a place in next season's Champions Cup.

Barron plays rugby with Cashel but comes from the Racecourse Cross and the Barrons have always been associated with New Inn.

It is the first rime the reigning champions Stormers were beaten at home since 2021 and Cashel hero Diarmuid Barron came up trumps by being in the right place at the right time as after just two minutes of action he touched down for the Irish side. 

Stormers settled into the game then but Munster forced errors and Seabelo Senalto was sin-binned for a high illegal tackle on the talismanic Peter O'Mahony which threw the ball into Munster hands. They seized the initiative. Barron was on form and got in for his second try of the game from a well worked lineout maul.

Stormers showed their class though and were well back in the game with two tries to level it at 12 all by the break. Shane Daly raised the away supporters voices on 58 minutes and Ben Healy kicked well just after. Munster determination was to the fore in the game but it needed to be against a ferocious challenge. Stormers regrouped and a well worked Stormers move was finished as Steven Kitshoff touched down on 66 minutes but that conversion went to the side and Munster clung on by tooth and nail to a two point lead. 

The game rolled towards the finish line as both sides scuffed chances in an intense encounter but Gavin Coombes powered over before the end to secure a bonus point for Munster, and while Stormers showed they weren't going to wilt by getting another try before full time.

Rollercoaster stuff then Graham Rowntree's globetrotters hung on for the plaudits as the Fields of Athenry took off in Cape Town. The win leaves Munster in fifth position on the table and secures a place in the URC play-offs for Munster with a game to spare.

Afterwards word was that Diarmuid Barron will be assessed by the medical department for a neck injury but there were plenty of positives with Peter O’Mahony the star man with a captains performance. Keith Earls also played his first game in some time with the journey home a bit shorter for the travelling supporters. 

Munster: Mike Haley (Keith Earls); Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley (Ben Healy), Conor Murray (Craig Casey); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley), Diarmuid Barron (Scott Buckley), Stephen Archer (Keynan Knox); Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman (Fineen Wycherley); Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen (Jack O’Donoghue), Gavin Coombes.