Bulls grind out massive win over Munster

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls managed to grind out a big win in Limerick by holding on to beat Munster 16-13 in their Round 15 United Rugby Championship clash.

It was a massive victory for the Bulls, handing Munster their first defeat in 12 home fixtures against South African opposition in the URC and a blow to their play-off hopes.

This game had all the makings of true grit, determination, and at times, utter confusion amidst an officiating error.

Munster ran out of road on home soil, as the Bulls piled the pressure on their URC play-off hopes.

With three regular-season games remaining, they have left themselves in a major hole at the end of a chaotic game.

Munster made two late changes to their team as Craig Casey and Peter O’Mahony had to withdraw due to illness.

Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue came into the starting XV with Rory Scannell and Paddy Patterson joining the replacements.

Jack Crowley got Munster on the scoreboard first after eight minutes because the Bulls players were not rolling away.

Fifteen minutes into the game, the Bulls took the lead as they got their first points through a dive effort by Marcelle Coetzee, converted by Goosen.

A three-pointer by the sharpshooting Goosen stretched the Bulls’ lead to 10-3 after a Munster neck roll.

It was clear Munster struggled to get into their kind of game, and the scrums did not help – it was a shambles, and both packs got a talking to by referee Andrea Piardi.

As Munster won a penalty, they opted to go for the corner instead of the three points.

From the lineout, they drove to the Bulls’ tryline, went wide right up to the sideline, then back inside, but were stopped by Coetzee, and Munster lost the ball.

Then Goosen and Crowley got into a tussle, and it was a bit argy-bargy stuff.

The penalty went to Munster, and they decided on a quick tap.

They drove forward, but the Bulls stood strong. Eventually, they found the space, and it was Thaakir Abrahams who dotted down. Crowley converted, and it was 10-10 at halftime.

Munster got the penalty at the scrum, and it was a crafty decision by Conor Murray to take a quick tap and catch Embrose Papier offside, who was shown a yellow.

As the rain came down, Munster were penalised for offside. Goosen slotted the kick for the visitors to take a narrow lead again.

But Crowley quickly made it 13-13 after 50 minutes, for an early tackle by David Kriel.

They went into uncontested scrums as Munster hooker Lee Barron replaced the injured tighthead prop Stephen Archer after 52 minutes.

With 20 minutes to go, it was still all to play for between two teams equal in strength and effort.

Both teams took to the air in search of territory, but it was well covered at the back by both sides.

Referee Piardi then made a call for Munster to bring back their 15th player, although the uncontested scrums remain, saying to the two captains: ‘We have too many rules in this game for me.’

As Alex Kendellen returned, the game was turning out to be full of chaos as it seemed Munster had to play with 14 incorrectly for 14 minutes.

As the confusion subsided, Keagan Johannes stepped up to put the Bulls in front again. It was a pressure kick from the replacement flyhalf, and he delivered.

Devon Williams’ clearance kick went straight into touch, and Munster got a lineout near the Bulls’ 22m.

Three minutes to go, and the crowd got behind their team, the Bulls defended for dear life, and it became frantic.

One minute left, and bodies were strewn all over. Zak Burger was carried off while Crowley and Cameron Hanekom received medical attention.

Munster threw everything at the Bulls, but their defence was belligerent and strong.

Still Munster drove forward – eventually they dropped the ball, Coetzee picked up and Williams kicked the ball out to end the game.

Scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: Abrahams
Cons: Crowley
Pens: Crowley 2

For Bulls:
Tries: Coetzee
Cons: Goosen
Pens: Goosen 2, Johannes

Yellow card: Embrose Papier (for Bulls, for offside 44’)

Teams

Munster: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Seán O’Brien, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Alex Kendellen, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Paddy Patterson, 21 Rory Scannell, 22 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 23 Ruadhán Quinn.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Johann Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Celimpilo Gumede, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Stravino Jacobs.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)