Munster's tour of South Africa got off to the worst possible start, as Clayton McMillan's side were thrashed 45-0 by the Sharks in an abject performance in Durban.
While the province never laid a glove on their King's Park hosts, the manner of their late capitulation will come as a real concern as they gave up three tries in the final four minutes, capping off their worst performance of the season.
Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries in a matter of moments late on, the last of which summed up Munster's day as he caught the restart after his first score, before running the length of the field to repeat the trick, to inflict further embarrassment on the tourists.
The seven-try defeat is also the first time Munster have been held scoreless in a competitive game since October 2009, when they lost 30-0 to Leinster.
McMillan's side gave up six scrum penalties and a free-kick, while their lineout also failed them on multiple occasions in Sharks' territory, as they struggled badly in the heat and humidity of Durban on a muggy and greasy evening.
There were just seven minutes on the clock when the Sharks got in for their opening try, as Phepsi Buthelezi touched down at the back of a maul following a couple of quick penalties, allowing the hosts a 7-0 lead.
The South Africans were dominating the opening half, but it took them until just before the 30-minute mark to extend their lead, and it again came via a penalty and a lineout, with Andre Esterhuizen carrying hard and Yaw Penxe throwing a stunning offload to Luan Giliomee, for the 19-year-old full-back to score on his debut, making it 12-0.
Munster had chances to score late in the half, but their lineout woes prevented them from getting back into the game, and they were made to pay when the Sharks crossed for their third try on 50 minutes, loosehead prop Phatu Ganyane powering through Ethan Coughlan and Mike Haley after a period of sustained pressure.
It felt like only a matter of time before the hosts would wrap up their bonus-point, and it came just before the hour mark, as Munster failed to deal with a kick downfield from Penxe, as Jordan Hendrikse and Grant Williams set up big second row Emile van Heerden, whose try made it 26-0 heading into the final quarter.
Munster had chances to get on the scoreboard at that stage, but again their lineout deserted them, and when centre Le Roux Malan grabbed the fifth Sharks try on 77 minutes - beating Dan Kelly to a chip in the air - it looked like Munster were in for a 33-0 hammering.
Unfortunately it would only get worse.
Not long after Malan's try, a loose Munster pass was hacked forward by a Sharks player and Mapimpi had the pace to chase it down for a sixth Sharks try, and the World Cup winner was celebrating another moments later as he caught JJ Hanrahan's restart and ran 75 metres to complete the humiliation.
