Munster Rugby have brought their A-game to Cape Town as they lead the DHL Stormers 12 – 7 at halftime in the URC Final. 

The Stormers got their challenge underway with a well-taken interception from flyhalf Manie Libbok who left the Munster defence in his wake en route to the opening try. 

Following his try, Libbok converted to put the hosts 7 – 0 ahead with five minutes played. 

Munster would strike back quickly through hooker Diarmuid Barron who burrowed over from a powerful rolling maul. 

Jack Crowley, who set up the Munster field position with a brilliant penalty kick to touch, missed the conversion to keep the Stormers 7 – 5 up. 

Sustaining pressure for a long period, Munster would hog 70% of the possession, in which time they had two tries disallowed by the television match official. 

Playing with attacking intent, Munster would finally take the lead as Crowley put in a pinpoint crossfield kick for Calvin Nash to go over. 

Crowley would convert the try to put the visitors 12 – 7 ahead at the half-hour mark. 

Unfortunately for Munster, inspirational captain Peter O’Mahony sustained a rather nasty head knock, forcing him from the pitch with eight minutes remaining in the half. 

In O’Mahony’s place came Springbok colossus RG Snyman for the remainder of the half. 

Whilst Munster were certainly the dominant team in the first half, the Stormers ended the first forty camped on the Munster line. 

Despite waves of attack, the hosts couldn’t crack the red line of defence and ultimately turned the ball over with Munster kicking into touch for halftime.