Munster gets URC quarterfinal redemption as Bulls fall short in Limerick

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls suffered their first United Rugby Championship defeat of the season after going down 22-26 to Munster in Limerick.

It was a close contest from the outset, but the visitors were more clinical in their execution when it mattered, while the Bulls will be kicking themselves for not getting the result.

The Bulls will return to Loftus Versfeld for their first home game of the season against the Lions while Munster will travel to Belfast to take on Ulster.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

Munster dominated the opening minutes with ball in hand, forcing the Bulls to make several tackles early on, with the visitors conceding a series of penalties in their red zone.

The hosts opted for a five-metre line-out but lost the ball on attack as the Bulls got out of jail early on.

The Bulls crossed the whitewash first from close range through Ruan Vermaak in the 14th minute, which originated from a line-out maul. Curwin Bosch added the extras.

Munster struck back through Diarmuid Kilgallen, who regathered a crossfield kick by Charlie O’Shea to dot down. O’Shea levelled the scores with a successful conversion kick from out wide.

O’Shea crossed the chalk in the 31st minute after charging down Bosch’s clearance kick to beat Zak Burger to the races and converted his own score as well.

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The Bulls struck back three minutes later after a solid piece of attacking play before Francois Klopper crashed over from close range in the 35th minute. Bosch slotted the conversion kick to level the scores once more.

The Bulls had one final attacking opportunity seconds before halftime but conceded a breakdown penalty as O’Shea tapped the ball and kicked it into touch to send the teams to the sheds.

Continues below…

Bosch put the Bulls ahead with a penalty kick in the 43rd minute, before Munster responded in the 55th minute through O’Shea, who dotted down in the corner to reclaim the lead.

Munster extended their lead in the 68th minute through Alex Kendellen for the bonus-point score, with O’Shea’s conversion opening up a nine-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Jeandre Rudolph closed the gap with a 73rd-minute try in the corner after sustained attack by the Bulls. Bosch missed the conversion.

The Bulls launched one final attack from their 22 metre area, but lost the ball forward as Munster killed the clock before Craig Casey kicked the ball into the stands to bring an end to proceedings.

Scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: Kilgallen, O’Shea 2, Kendellen
Cons: O’Shea 3

For Bulls:
Tries: Vermaak, Klopper, Rudolph
Cons: Bosch 2
Pen: Bosch

Teams:

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Seán O’Brien, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Shay McCarthy, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Craig Casey (captain), 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Kieran Brookes, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Alex Kendellen

Bulls: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Stravino Jacobs, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Willie le Roux.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU), Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)