Sharks triumph over Munster in thrilling penalty shoot-out

THERE were scenes of utter bedlam at Kings Park on Saturday night when the Sharks prevailed over Munster in a United Rugby Championship quarter-final thanks to a successful penalty shoot-out following 20 minutes of extra time.

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Rugby is not accustomed to soccer-style shootouts and there was an unlikely hero for the Sharks in replacement scrumhalf Bradley Davids, who held his nerve after the Munster kicker, Rory Scannell had earlier missed a kick.

The Sharks are through to a semi-final against the Bulls, and they are there by the skin of their teeth after the match finished at 24-24 and the extra time of 20 minutes could produce no score.

Munster were returning to a ground where seven months ago they got a 41-24 mauling, a result that cost coach Graham Rowntree his job.

The Shark Tank is the one South African venue where Munster had never won a match, although they came close two years ago when they drew 22-22 en route to eventually winning the title in Cape Town.

Munster are a proud team and at their most unpredictable when they are pinning their colours to a mast. This was the case with a collective of more than 600 caps about to retire in the form of warriors Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer.

Munster have proved they are a team never afraid of delivering on foreign soil - they won a succession of away playoffs to win the title in Cape Town, against the Stormers.