Bulls hammering sees Munster Rugby season come to an end
Munster were beaten by 31 points and failed to score in the second half
MUNSTER Rugby’s season came to a crashing end after a 45-14 defeat in the URC quarte-final to the Bulls in Pretoria.
Clayton McMillan’s men were outscored by six tries to two in what was a comprehensive victory for the South African side.
A season that promised so much early on, has ended with a whimper with the Bulls full value for their winning margin.
Munster will now head into the off-season with many questions about matters on and off the field still to be resolved. The one positive from recent months is that they have managed to qualify for the Champions Cup next season.
The Bulls thought they were in for a try inside five minutes after Canan Moodie broke clear of the Munster defence but his pass to Stravino Jacobs was ruled to have gone forward by referee Andrea Piardi.
Munster didn’t heed the warning. A Munster scrum on their own ‘22 was decimated by the monstrous Bulls pack.
Playing with advantage, they rampaged through the Munster defence with scrum-half Embrose Papier darting past Niall Scannell to go in for the opening try. Handre Pollard slotted the resultant conversion to make the score 7-0 with seven minutes on the clock.
The home side didn’t have to wait long for a second try as Munster were penalised for another error. Shane Daly’s clearing kick didn’t find touch and was ran back by Bulls full back Willie Le Roux.
There was a hint of obstruction but Le Roux took full advantage of the gap afforded to him to race away and find the pass for Kurt-Lee Arendse who went in for their second try. Again, Pollard added the extras.
Things looked bleak at that stage for Munster but some green shoots appeared when they finally got some time in the Bulls ‘22.
Several penalty advantages followed for Munster after the Bulls strayed offside and it was Jack O’Donoghue that eventually dotted down following a TMO check. JJ Hanrahan added the extras to bring Munster to within seven points.
Munster conceded a penalty right from the restart and Pollard landed the kick to put side side 17-7 in front.
Again, Munster responded and got rewarded for their diligent work just after the half hour mark.
A solid scrum inside the Bulls half gave Craig Casey the platform to fire a quick pass out to Sean O’Brien. He fed Nankivell, who glided through the Bulls defence.
Nankivell then brilliantly offloaded to Haley but he chose to hold onto the ball instead of looking to his right where Andrew Smith was clear.
However, Munster stayed patient and it was Nankivell that got in for the try after a few phases close to the Bulls line with Hanrahan converting to bring Munster to within three.
All that good work was undone in the lead up to half time as further errors led to Johan Grobbelaar and Cameron Hanekom scoring further tries for the Bulls. Both of which were converted by Pollard to see his side 31-14 up at the break.
Munster did their utmost in the first 15 minutes of the second half to get back into the contest but were unable to break through a resolute Bulls defence.
A cruel blow was then delivered with Munster deep inside the Bulls ‘22. A sloppy pass was seized upon by Papier and he ran 80 metres to score the first try of the second half with Pollard adding the extras.
Ruan Nortje then made a break through the middle of the pitch moments later. The ball was worked wide to Jacobs and he was too quick for Haley and Casey, scoring a sixth for the Bulls. Pollard’s conversion made the score 45-14 on the hour.
Neither side registered a score in the final 20 minutes with the home side looking but Munster held out and it is the Bulls that progress to the semi-finals.
MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith (Dan Kelly, 54 mins), Alex Nankivell, Sean O’Brien, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, 64), Niall Scannel (Diarmuid Barronl, 33 mins), Michael Ala’alatoa (Conor Bartley, 71 mins); Tom Ahern (Fineen Wycherley, 10 mins), Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue (Brian Gleeson, 59 mins, Ben O’Donovan, 72 mins), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen, 46 mins), Brian Gleeson (Gavin Coombes, 46 mins).
BULLS: Willie Le Roux (Sergeal Petersen, ; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster (Stedman Gans, 60 mins), Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier (Paul De Wet, 57 mins); Gerhard Steenekamp (Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 57 mins), Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper (Mornay Smith, 57 mins); Ruan Vermaak (Cobus Wiese, 57 mins), Ruan Nortje; Marcell Coetzee (Jeandrew Rudolph, 57 mins), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom (Marco Van Staden, 68 mins).
REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (ITA)