FULL TIME: MUNSTER 34-21 SHARKS Munster were full value for their win thanks to their attacking play. They were also clinical at the breakdown, figuring out what the referee wanted very quickly. Munster take a bonus point win and the Sharks leave with nought.

CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH, 34-21: Bosch converts the try but time is up.

TRY, SHARKS, FASSI, 34-19: The Sharks get a consolation try.

Carberry misses the conversion.

TRY, MUNSTER, COUGHLAN, 34-10: Coughlan is in at the corner as the Sharks seem to have run out of gas.

Munster threaten with a cross kick but Conway is tackled into touch on halfway.

Fassi looks to spark something from deep and takes Munster back to their 22 but they get back and can clear up to halfway.

The Sharks try to play from deep and throw a forward pass.

Munster get another attacking set after a poor kick to touch from the Sharks but they feed the lineout skew and the Sharks have the scrum feed.

Carberry cannot convert.

TRY, MUNSTER, CONWAY, 29-10: Munster keep pushing and have the advantage. They will not need it though as Conway goes over.

Munster get another penalty and fly up to the referee to call for more cards.

YELLOW CARD, SHARKS, WRIGHT: The Sharks will be in trouble here. Janse van Rensburg appears to have tackled Daly and Wright goes in with a shoulder to the shoulder and head of the Munster.

Munster get a penalty in the Sharks 22 and got to the corner.

Wright scrambles the kick clear just outside the Sharks 22 after they have to rush back having thrown a loose pass which was kicked ahead by Munster.

The Sharks put Munster under pressure and the hosts knock on to give the visitors the scrum feed.

Munster keep the Sharks out again even if there was an air of no clear release and they can kick clear with the penalty.

Buthelezi is tackled early twice in one movement but it isn't blown up and the Sharks knock on to end their attacking move..

The Sharks kick long from a penalty and can get straight back onto the attack.

CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH, 24-14: Bosch converts the try to make it a ten point game.

TRY, SHARKS, JANSE VAN RENSBURG, 24-12: The Sharks pour forward after a 50-22, and its take quickly with Potgieter just stopped short. They recycle quickly though and Janse van Rensburg dives over with the players around him all offside.

Another penalty goes the way of Munster even though there was no attempt to wrap in a Munster tackle.

PENALTY, MUNSTER, CARBERRY, 24-7: The Sharks are punished at the breakdown again and Munster take the points.

The Sharks fight hard in defence but Munster get a penalty when the Sharks attempt a jackal improperly. The kick is thumped up to the Sharks 22.

The Sharks restart deep and Munster gather and set one phase before sending a hoist up and Wright spills it into touch. Munster have the lineout feed close to halfway.

HALF TIME: MUNSTER 21-7 SHARKS The Sharks get a lesson in taking your chances in that first half. They don't deserve to be down by 14 at the break on the balance of play, but you have to finish off. Munster lead and need just one more try for a bonus point.

CONVERSION, MUNSTER, CARBERRY, 21-7: Carberry kicks the conversion.

TRY, ,MUNSTER, FRISCH, 19-7: Frisch gets to a bouncing ball after the Sharks do a Keystone Cops impersonation.

CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH, 14-7: Bosch kicks the conversion.

TRY, SHARKS, KOK, 14-5: Bosch scythes through a gap and might have got in himself but hands it off to Kok who goes over in the corner.

The Sharks kick long but not out and Daly runs it back at them. Munster look likely but they knock on and the Sharks get a scrum. The Sharks get a penalty at the scrum and kick into the Munster 22.

The lineout feed isn't straight and the Sharks feed a scrum inside their own 22.

An awful kick by Wright leaves his wing offside and Munster get a cheap penalty and a lineout in the Sharks 22.

Carberry's cross-kick doesn't find the man out wide and the Sharks have the lineout feed.

Kok is hit high but the referee misses it and the TMO takes no action. Instead Munster win a penalty and can clear their lines.

Coughlan kicks to touch and finds it close to halfway where the Sharks will feed the lineout.

CONVERSION, MUNSTER, CARBERRY, 14-0: Carberry converts.

TRY, MUNSTER, BARRON, 12-0: Barron is over after a string of great offloads gave the Sharks no chance.

The Sharks try a bit too much on attack and end up losing the ball on the deck and Munster have a scrum just inside their own half.

CONVERSION, MUNSTER, CARBERRY, 7-0: Carberry converts the try from out wide.

TRY, MUNSTER, EDOGBO, 5-0: Edogbo stretches to score with two Sharks defenders on his back.

Munster cannot get out of their own half with ball in hand and kick. Chamberlain is back for the Sharks and can kick straight to touch which he does finding it on halfway where Munster have the lineout.

A sloppy passage of play ends after both sides knock on. Munster will feed the scrum about ten inside their own half.

The Sharks do great work to allow Mchunu to rumble up towards the line but he is ruled to have knocked it on on the ground.

The Sharks get another penalty and reject a shot at goal as they set up another lineout close to the Munster line.

The Sharks get another penalty and reject a shot at goal as they set up another lineout close to the Munster line.

Kok does brilliantly to make a tackle and pop to his feet to win a penalty for the Sharks after a linebreak from Daly. The Sharks kick up to the 22 of Munster where they have a lineout.

The scrum is a problem and Munster go early, the Sharks get a free kick and send it high in the air but Munster gather through Daly.

Munster get a generous scrum penalty and can set up an attacking lineout. They send waves of attackers at the Sharks who hold them out of the 22 at least until Munster throw a forward pass.

Van Vuuren showing early season rust as he drops a simple pass while in space. Bosch had stepped the chaser after his long kick was kicked back at him.

Munster put up a hoist after securing the lineout and win the ball but then they knock on. The Sharks feed a scrum that straddles the halfway line.

Mchunu breaks from a pick and go and finds Wright in support but he can't get to the line and is isolated and hangs on. Munster survive and kick clear from the penalty.

Chamberlain puts his kick straight into touch to bring a disappointing end to a promising Sharks foray into the Munster half.

KICK-OFF: The match is underway with a hanging kick.

The Sharks stacked bench suggests they will try to wear down Munster for the first 60 minutes or so and then try to burgle a win to start their very tough opening tour. Munster field an incredibly strong side despite the absence of their Irish and South African internationals and the defending champions start as strong favourites.

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 George Cronje, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Emile van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Aphelele Fassi

Munster: 15 Shane Daly; 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Calvin Nash; 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Ethan Coughlan; 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Shay McCarthy.

Greetings and a warm welcome to our coverage of the United Rugby Championship round one match between Munster and the Sharks from Thomond Park in Limerick.