Munster 17-17 Bayonne: Visitors score late try to earn draw in Investec Champions Cup opener

Shay McCarthy prepares to dot down for Munster's first try of the game

Bayonne scored a late converted try to earn a 17-17 draw away to Munster in a hard-fought encounter in the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup at Thomond Park.

Shay McCarthy and Gavin Coombes notched tries for the hosts in the first half, as Munster led 14-3 at half-time.

Bayonne responded in the second half, with tries from Junior Tagi and Remy Baget, late in the game.

Thomas Dolhagaray kicked the conversion to give them a share of the spoils.

The comeback from Bayonne was all the more impressive given the hammering rain, as the French side battled their way back into the game at Thomond Park.

Bayonne got off to a strong start but Munster survived early pressure from the French side.

The visitors got the better of the early exchanges and Maxime Machenaud knocked over an early penalty to put his side ahead.

However, it was not long before Munster grew into the game, with Jack Crowley kicking to the corner from an early penalty to give the home side a platform to attack.

Munster won their line-out and worked the ball out wide, where McCarthy evaded a number of tackles before crashing over the line on his Champions Cup debut to get his side off the mark. Crowley added the extras.

Munster looked in control and struck again in the first half, once again using their line-out as an attacking platform, with Coombes powering his way over after from close distance following a number of phases close to the Bayonne tryline.

Bayonne kept battling and even had a try from Cheikh Tiberghien ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up.

Munster's Ben O'Connor tackles Matis Perchaud of Bayonne

The sides went in at the break with Munster having dominated in terms of territory and possession, but Bayonne still very much within touching distance.

The visitors got the second half off to a perfect start, with Tagi finishing a well-worked try in the pouring rain to keep his side in the contest.

With the game on a knife edge, Munster added a slight cushion with a penalty from Crowley, following a sustained spell of pressure.

Munster continued to apply pressure but could not capitalise following a couple of missed chances, including a stolen line-out and an overblown pass from Tadgh Beirne.

The game became increasingly scrappy in the closing stages as the conditions worsened and Munster held on to their lead.

A line-out and rolling maul from the French side created the attacking platform for scrum-half Aprasidze to make a break down the short side and supply Baget, who did well to score to get Bayonne back in the game.

Dolhagaray nailed his touchline conversion to draw the sides level and snatch his side a dramatic draw.

Munster: Nash; McCarthy, Nankivell, R. Scannell, O'Brien; Crowley, Murray; Loughman, Buckley, J. Ryan; F Wycherley, Beirne; Ahern, Hodnett, G Coombes.

Replacements: Clarke, J Wycherley, Archer, O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Casey, Butler, O'Connor.

Bayonne: Tiberghien, Pourailly, Muscarditz, Buliruarua, Baget, Dolhagaray, Machenaud, Perchaud, Bosh, Tatafu, Marchois, K Mikautadze, Huguet, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Acquier, Cormenier, Tagi, Iturria, Bourdeau, Aprasidze, Erbinartegaray, Spring.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)