Knock-out European rugby returns as Munster travel to South Africa to take on the Cell C Sharks in their round of 16 clash. With a quarter-final at stake and South Africa a difficult place to win, Munster will need everything they have to win. These two well-matched sides should deliver a thrilling affair come Saturday. We have all the information on how to watch Munster v Sharks here.
When is Munster v Sharks?
Munster take on the Sharks on Saturday the 1st of April at 12:30pm Irish time in Hollywoodbets Kings Park Durban South Africa.
How to watch Munster v Sharks
Munster v Sharks will be broadcast live on BT Sports 3 from noon ahead of the 12:30pm kickoff.
Form Guide
Very little separates these two sides as both teams come into the game in relatively similar form. Munster have won two of their four Champions cup games while the Cell C Sharks have won three of the four, however, Munster sit seven points ahead of them in the URC table with an additional win on their record.
These sides are yet to meet this season, but Saturday's game will mark their first of two games in just three weeks as the Munster squad head back to South Africa for the conclusion of the URC. The Sharks have won their last three European games on the bounce but are coming straight off the back of two losses in the URC. Munster on the other hand lost their last European tie and their last URC game but had won their previous four league games. These sides have met just once before, in 2021 when Munster thrashed the South African outfit 42-17.
In all metrics barring games won and tries scored Munster outweigh the Sharks. So far in the European Championship Munster have had superior ball-carrying, passes completed, turnovers and tackles. Their recent form in the URC barring their defeat last weekend has been superior to the Sharks and if Graham Rowntree can make things gel and transfer possession into scores Munster will be a force to be reckoned with.
Expect a tight, high-impact game full of big hits and forward plays with very little separating the two sides as Munster play their first knockout game of the season.
Team News
Munster
Graham Rowntree has named a strong side for the Munster clash with Peter O'Mahony back to lead out the side, Jack Crowley and Craig Casey partnering at nine and ten and RG Snyman back in the starting team after returning from injury last month. The team in full is:
15. Mike Haley 14. Calvin Nash 13. Antoine Frisch 12. Malakai Fekitoa 11. Shane Daly 10. Jack Crowley 9. Craig Casey; 1. Dave Kilcoyne 2. Niall Scannell 3. Roman Salanoa 4. Jean Kleyn 5. RG Snyman 6. Peter O’Mahony (C) 7. John Hodnett 8. Gavin Coombes
Sharks
The Sharks have named an equally strong side with World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi leading out the side and South African star Eben Etzebeth named to start as well. The team in full is:
1. Ox Nche 2. Bongi Mbonambi 3. Thomas du Toit 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Gerbrandt Grobler 6. Siya Kolisi (C) 7. Vincent Tshituka 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe 9. Jaden Hendrikse 10. Curwin Bosch 11. Makazole Mapimpi 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg 13. Lukhanyo Am 14. Werner Kok 15. Boeta Chamberlain
That's all the info you need on how to watch Munster v Sharks in this European Champions Cup round of 16 knock-out encounter.
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