How’re we doing, everyone?

Gavan Casey here, and welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Munster’s URC quarter-final away to the Sharks at Kings Park Stadium, Durban.

I’ve just been liveblogging Leinster’s win over the Scarlets — they’ll meet Glasgow at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.

The winner of this evening’s game in South Africa will travel to the Bulls in Pretoria next week after their 11-try thriller with Edinburgh earlier today.

Tadhg Beirne, captain of Munster, referee Mike Adamson and Eben Etzebeth, captain of Hollywoodbets Sharks at the coin toss. Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO / Darren Stewart/INPHO

We’re just over 20 minutes from kick-off in The Shark Tank!

A reminder of your teams for this evening’s last quarter-final.

The Sharks welcome back Lukanyho Am, making his 100th appearance for the club, while Jordan Hendrikse also returns at 10.

Munster name an unchanged 15 for the third week on the spin, but they’ve got a 5-3 split on their bench with Rory Scannell and Mike Haley accompanying Conor Murray among the back subs.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (CAPT), Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Emile van Heerden, Phepsi Buthelezi, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley

1′ – SHA 0-0 MUN: Scottish referee Mike Adamson sounds his whistle and Jordan Hendrikse gets the action underway at Kings Park Stadium.

There was a moment’s silence pre-game for both Sheelagh Foley and Michelle Payne.

Michelle’s husband, Shaun Payne, played for the Sharks as well as Munster.

2′ – SHA 0-0 MUN: Sharks with a bright start but good linespeed from Munster. Big hit by John Hodnett on Eben Etzebeth.

Sharks eventually pinged for crossing in midfield.

4′ – SHA 0-0 MUN: Both sides tearing into each other from the off. No major incidents, just solid hits all round.

7′ – SHA 0-0 MUN: First scrum of the evening: Springboks Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, powered by Eben Etzebeth and Jason Jenkins behind them, immediately win a penalty off Munster.

Stephen Archer is pinged, with Bongi giving it the big’ne.

Hendrikse boots the Sharks to touch well inside the Munster half.

8′ – SHA 0-0 MUN: Sharks spill forward off second phase on the Munster 22′ — Hodnett dislodging the ball from Jenkins.

Excellent start in defence by the Rosscarbery man.

10′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! CALVIN NASH!

Oh, what a score! Diarmuid Kilgallen with a sublime break in transition. Jack Crowley with the crossfield kick in behind Makazole Mapimpi — and it bounces into Nash’s grasp inches from the line!

Crowley, from the right-hand touchline, splits the posts.

Munster lead in Durban!

13′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Emile Van Heerden on for Jason Jenkins — not sure if it’s a HIA or a straight swap.

Not much of a loss: Van Heerden is a serious athlete. But could be one less bench option at a later stage.

14′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Solid Munster scrum on halfway and Craig Casey drills a beautiful attempted 50-22′. Aphelele Fassi stops it but his feet drift into touch: Munster lineout in the Sharks’ 22′.

15′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Munster’s forwards bash away as far as the Sharks’ 5′ and they win the penalty for no clear release.

The visitors opt for three points but Crowley miscues off the tee. Really poor miss by the out-half who nailed a much more difficult conversion moments ago.

17′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Crowley doesn’t quite make up for that missed place kick — but he drills a lovely touchfinder into the Sharks 22′. Home ball but nice territory gain.

Sharks win their lineout and clear to touch just outside their own 22′.

19′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Munster tried to go out the back of the lineout but Coombes is swarmed as he tries to take the ball and pop it inside.

The Sharks, though, knocked it on in their scramble to thwart him.

Munster scrum outside the Sharks’ 22′.

It’s been a really positive start for the visitors.

20′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Thaakir Abrahams gets isolated and the Sharks win a jackal penalty, Hendrikse and Vincent Koch over the ball with ease.

Bit of a missed chance for Munster there.

27′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Sharks have made a decent number of handling errors so far and Jordan Hendrikse just missed touch from a penalty.

It’s tense, it’s bitty, it’s ferocious at times. But there’s not yet a discernible pattern to the game.

Munster will be happy enough so far. Very few glimpses — yet — of the Sharks’ threat in transition.

Ethan Hooker did have a nearly moment up the left edge but knocked on as he tried to chip into the backfield.

31′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Sharks win another scrum penalty on their own put-in. They’re putting Munster under savage pressure in that particular set piece.

It’s a long way out — maybe 50 metres when you take into consideration the left-hand angle — but Jordan Hendrikse is going to have a shot at goal and try to get the Sharks on the board.

32′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Hendrikse pulls it wide left.

Munster will restart with a 22-metre drop-out.

36′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: The Sharks finally cut loose with two sustained, powerful attacks. But Tadhg Beirne makes an extraordinary read and interception on his own 5′!

Incredible intervention by the Munster captain as Munster’s line finally began to creak!

The bad news for Munster is that Mapimpi has come alive…

38′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: The momentum is certainly with the Sharks now. Building waves of attacking pressure. Munster slipping off a few tackles but holding out so far.

HT – SHA 0-7 MUN: The first quarter was all Munster, and they made it count with Nash’s try but should have extended their lead with a bad penalty miss by Crowley.

The second quarter became all Sharks but Munster have held firm, with one incredible interception by Tadhg Beirne near their own line helping to keep the hosts at bay.

Momentum with the Sharks, certainly, but Munster have performed diligently so far.

Catch you in 15 minutes!

41′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Jack Crowley restarts the action in The Shark Tank.

Huge 40 minutes ahead.

Sharks finished the first half firmly in the ascendancy, and Munster will need to pick their moments here.

41′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Tom Farrell concedes a pen from the restart, tries a jackal with no clear release. It looked harsh, honestly, but Mike Adamson gave him two warnings.

Sharks kick possession away from the lineout and Munster will drop out from their own goal-line. The hosts will be happy with that immediate territorial gain.

43′ – SHA 0-7 MUN: Fassi tries a chip in behind Abrahams just outside the Munster 22′ but it dribbles into touch before Mapimpi can gather it.

Munster win a penalty in the ensuing lineout as O’Mahony is taken out in the air — but Crowley misses touch. That’s so poor by the 10.

45′ – TRY FOR SHARKS! ETHAN HOOKER FROM DOWNTOWN!

Another loose kick by Crowley and Munster are punished. Sharks take a kick uncontested and break right. Lukanhyo Am had a lovely offload in there and Ethan Hooker showed his wheels, slaloming home untouched from a different postcode.

Hendrikse converts the easy extras.

Munster have shot themselves in the foot routinely since half-time.

51′ – SHA 7-7 MUN: Another scrum penalty for the Sharks and they’ve a lineout on the Munster 10′.

52′ – SHA 7-7 MUN: It’s all Sharks at the moment. They go close through Kolisi but he spills forward deep in Munster territory.

Abrahams can only clear to touch on the Munster 22′ — and here come the Sharks once more.

Abrahams has also just been replaced at fullback by Mike Haley.

54′ – SHA 7-7 MUN: Sharks penalty on the Munster 5′.

They’re really bringing the power now and Munster can’t quite get to grips with it.

It’s a continuation of the second quarter: Sharks making serious inroads and Munster’s defence bending without breaking. But it’s ominous for the southern province.

Sharks will take three from the pen.

55′ – SHA 10-7 MUN: Hendrikse slots over from in front of the posts and the Sharks have their first lead.

57′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! JOSH WYCHERLEY!

What a response by Munster!

Tom Farrell exposes a dog-leg in the Sharks’ defence. Calvin Nash gets it close and, off next phase, Casey feeds replacement Wycherley for the walk-in score!

Crowley converts and Munster regain the lead in Durban, out of nowhere!

58′ – SHA 10-14 MUN: Tom Ahern is also on for Peter O’Mahony, who may or may not have made his final appearance for Munster.

61′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! DIARMUID KILGALLEN! OUT OF NOTHING!

Munster attack wide left and Haley chips through off his left boot.

Mapimpi slips on the cover and Kilgallen chips through, dotting down just before the ball goes dead!

Crowley converts. Munster lead by 11!

63′ – SHA 10-21 MUN: Munster concede a penalty straight off the restart — I didn’t see what it was for, sorry — and the Sharks have a five-metre lineout.

Munster then pinged, I would say harshly, for collapsing the maul. Sharks go again from five.

65′ – SHA 10-21 MUN: Sharks bashing and bashing at the Munster line and eventually the visitors are pinged for offside under their own posts.

Etzebeth receiving some treatment here for a big welt under his left eye but Sharks will restart with the penalty from five. Not clear yet what they’ve chosen to do.

66′ – SHA 10-21 MUN: Sharks will scrum it from five. They’ve pulverised Munster at scrum time so they’ll probably look for a penalty try here with Munster already on a short leash, albeit I don’t think they’re on a warning yet.

67′ – SHA 10-21 MUN: Munster’s scrum folds and Adamson sounds his whistle for another penalty, but not yet a penalty try.

Replacement hooker Diarmuid Barron is going back off for Munster with an injury. Niall Scannell coming back on. Play stopped again for now.

67′ – SHA 10-21 MUN: Michael Milne also back on for Josh Wycherley, who injured his leg scoring the try.

No real advantage to Munster’s scrum with these changes — their starting front row got crushed by the Sharks’ internationals in the first half.

68′ – TRY FOR SHARKS! Aphelele Fassi walks in as Munster’s scrum concedes another penalty advantage.

We’re back to a four-point game, folks!

70′ – SHA 17-21 MUN: Niall Scannell, back on for his second stint, is treated for a dislocated finger!

Walking wounded in Munster’s front row with 11 minutes to go.

71′ – SHA 17-21 MUN: Calvin Nash with an unreal aerial take but Alex Nankivell, short of options, throws a forward pass.

Another Sharks scrum. That really was a disastrous mistake just inside the Sharks half.

73′ – SHA 17-21 MUN:Munster survive that scrum but Sharks have a penalty about halfway into the Munster half — Gavin Coombes pinged for not rolling away as Tom Farrell attempts a poach. It’s harsh.

Hendrikse bangs the Sharks up toward Munster’s five.

Huge chance for the hosts.

74′ – TRY FOR SHARKS! Fez Mbatha! Brute force! Sharks are in!

Hendrikse converts.

Disaster for Munster.

Three down with six to play.

77′ – SHA 24-21 MUN: Munster win a penalty just inside the Sharks half, deliberate knock-on by one of the home players.

Silly penalty — Munster asking for yellow but Adamson not entertaining it.

Munster are going to try to level proceedings from the tee. It’s a long way out. Conor Murray is going to have a go instead of Crowley!

77′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: CONOR MURRAY DRAINS IT FROM ALL OF 50 METRES!

The sides are level!

80′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Mapimpi breaks the Munster line and bolts into the 22′ but Alex Kendellen reefs the ball from him on the ground. A potential match-saver by the replacement back row!

Munster, though, have a scrum to negotiate deep in their own half after a subsequent Sharks knock-on.

It’s in front of the posts, just outside the 22′. If the Sharks win a penalty here, they’ll win the game from the tee.

82′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Munster survive the scrum and get it off the field. We’re going to extra time in Durban!

1′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Here we go! We’re back for the third half! Jordan Hendrikse restarts.

Two periods of 10 minutes.

If it’s still level after that, we’ll go to penalties. Surely not…

3′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Haley spills a difficult high ball just inside his own half and the Sharks will have a scrum.

Sound the Jaws music!

6′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: After an initial reset, the Sharks get a shove on and win the penalty advantage.

They swing right and Ethan Hooker has the line at his mercy but the pass lands around his ankles!

Adamson brings it back for the pen and the Sharks will kick to the corner!

Big call, but their power has proven too much for Munster at times today and they’re backing it to do the same again here.

7′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Sharks bang it up to within five and TADHG BEIRNE SAYS NO!

Incredible jackal turnover as the Sharks began to inch their way to the line! Penalty Munster!

9′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Beautiful cross-chip by Fassi and the Sharks cut loose again but after Nash’s recovery tackle, the hosts pass forward off first phase.

Munster escape again, for now: they still have a scrum to get through here on their own 22′.

10′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Sharks win the scrum against the head!

They’re now attacking on the Munster 22′.

11′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: With the clock red, the Sharks move it to within 10 of Munster’s line and set up the perfect drop-goal opportunity for Hendrikse.

But Tom Ahern makes an incredible charge-down! The ball eventually dribbles out for half-time in extra time.

That was 10 minutes of Sharks domination. Heroic defence by Munster but they barely had the ball in the Sharks half.

It’s not sustainable, you’d have to think, but Jaysus, it’s admirable.

11′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: We’re back underway immediately.

Crowley’s restart is dropped by a Shark in their own 22′. Scrum Munster, but the Sharks blew them off their own ball on the last one.

12′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Munster get the ball away but a poor spillage by Haley is ruled forward.

Sharks scrum just outside their own 22′ now.

The ball is bar of soap with the humidity, to be fair.

14′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: You know the scéal: Sharks win another scrum penalty.

Hendrikse boots the hosts to touch inside the Munster half.

16′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Munster hold up a Sharks carrier in a choke tackle just inside their own 22′. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that it’s scrum time.

18′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: After a reset and a bout of Tadhg Beirne cramp, Munster get it away. Crowley clears but the ball is in play on halfway.

20′ – SHA 24-24 MUN: Sharks target Munster with several high balls to try to force the error that would yield a scrum to potentially win the game with a penalty. Munster stand firm.

Crowley fires a beauty of a spiral over halfway and into touch.

Into the final seconds now, Sharks win their lineout — just!

Clock red. And the Sharks kick it out!

WE’RE GOING TO PENALTIES!

In-cred-ible.

Right, here we go.

Each coach will nominate three players to take kicks. Three kicks each to begin with. Then we move back in distance for more difficult kicks.

Then it’s onto sudden death if required.

Jaden Hendrikse converts from in front of the posts. Sharks lead 1-0.

Crowley levels from the same spot. 1-1.

Up next, Jordan Hendrikse from right of centre on the 22′. He slots it. 2-1 Sharks.

Rory Scannell will take Munster’s kick from this position, with his left foot.

OH NO! Scannell pulls it wide right! It stays 2-1 to the Sharks!

Bradley Davids up next from left-of-centre. He nudges the Sharks 3-1 in front.

Conor Murray slots his effort. 3-2.

And now we move onto the second set of kicks from a little bit further back.

Jaden Hendrikse nails it again. 4-2 Sharks.

And Hendrikse goes down with cramp right next to Crowley as Munster’s out-half tees up.

Adamson tells Crowley he’ll give him as much time as he needs.

Ah, this is incredible drama.

Crowley, from the 10-metre line in a central position, drifts one IN from left to right! That was scary! 4-3!

Jordan Hendrikse nails his effort from right of centre on the 10. Sharks lead 5-3. Excellent kick.

Over to Rory Scannell again. He missed his first, easier effort. If he misses this, it’s all over. But Scannell drains it! 5-4!

Bradley Davids can win it. The 22-year-old strikes from left-of-centre on the 10!

HE’S DONE IT! SHARKS ARE THROUGH! IT’S PENALTY HEARTBREAK FOR MUNSTER AGAIN!