MATCH REPORT: The Bulls managed to grind out an enormous win in Limerick by holding on to beat Munster 16-13 of their Spherical 15 United Rugby Championship conflict.
It was a large victory for the Bulls, handing Munster their first defeat in 12 residence fixtures in opposition to South African opposition within the URC and a blow to their play-off hopes.
This recreation had all of the makings of true grit, willpower, and at instances, utter confusion amidst an officiating error.
Munster ran out of highway on residence soil, because the Bulls piled the strain on their URC play-off hopes.
With three regular-season video games remaining, they’ve left themselves in a significant gap on the finish of a chaotic recreation.
Munster made two late modifications to their workforce as Craig Casey and Peter O’Mahony needed to withdraw on account of sickness.
Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue got here into the beginning XV with Rory Scannell and Paddy Patterson becoming a member of the replacements.
Jack Crowley obtained Munster on the scoreboard first after eight minutes as a result of the Bulls gamers weren’t rolling away.
Fifteen minutes into the sport, the Bulls took the lead as they obtained their first factors by way of a dive effort by Marcelle Coetzee, transformed by Goosen.
A 3-pointer by the sharpshooting Goosen stretched the Bulls’ result in 10-3 after a Munster neck roll.
It was clear Munster struggled to get into their form of recreation, and the scrums didn’t assist – it was a shambles, and each packs obtained a speaking to by referee Andrea Piardi.
As Munster received a penalty, they opted to go for the nook as a substitute of the three factors.
From the lineout, they drove to the Bulls’ tryline, went huge proper as much as the sideline, then again inside, however have been stopped by Coetzee, and Munster misplaced the ball.
Then Goosen and Crowley obtained right into a tussle, and it was a bit argy-bargy stuff.
The penalty went to Munster, and so they selected a fast faucet.
They drove ahead, however the Bulls stood sturdy. Finally, they discovered the house, and it was Thaakir Abrahams who dotted down. Crowley transformed, and it was 10-10 at halftime.
Munster obtained the penalty on the scrum, and it was a artful choice by Conor Murray to take a fast faucet and catch Embrose Papier offside, who was proven a yellow.
Because the rain got here down, Munster have been penalised for offside. Goosen slotted the kick for the guests to take a slim lead once more.
However Crowley shortly made it 13-13 after 50 minutes, for an early deal with by David Kriel.
They went into uncontested scrums as Munster hooker Lee Barron changed the injured tighthead prop Stephen Archer after 52 minutes.
With 20 minutes to go, it was nonetheless all to play for between two groups equal in energy and energy.
Each groups took to the air in quest of territory, however it was effectively lined on the again by each side.
Referee Piardi then made a name for Munster to convey again their fifteenth participant, though the uncontested scrums stay, saying to the 2 captains: ‘We’ve got too many guidelines on this recreation for me.’
As Alex Kendellen returned, the sport was turning out to be stuffed with chaos because it appeared Munster needed to play with 14 incorrectly for 14 minutes.
Because the confusion subsided, Keagan Johannes stepped as much as put the Bulls in entrance once more. It was a strain kick from the alternative flyhalf, and he delivered.
Devon Williams’ clearance kick went straight into contact, and Munster obtained a lineout close to the Bulls’ 22m.
Three minutes to go, and the group obtained behind their workforce, the Bulls defended for expensive life, and it grew to become frantic.
One minute left, and our bodies have been strewn throughout. Zak Burger was carried off whereas Crowley and Cameron Hanekom obtained medical consideration.
Munster threw every little thing on the Bulls, however their defence was belligerent and powerful.
Nonetheless Munster drove ahead – ultimately they dropped the ball, Coetzee picked up and Williams kicked the ball out to finish the sport.
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’)
Groups
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 (Eire), Sam Holt (Eire)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
