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Munster up to third after brilliant win away to Bulls

Updated / Saturday, 20 Apr 2024 18:39
John Hodnett scored the third of Munster's four tries
John Hodnett scored the third of Munster's four tries

Munster posted a statement victory in their quest for back-to-back BKT United Rugby Championship titles as they beat the Bulls 27-22 at Loftus Versfeld.

Scrum-half Conor Murray's try six minutes from time secured a bonus-point victory in Pretoria and took Munster above the Bulls into third place.

The home team had out-half Johan Goosen sent off after 54 minutes for a dangerous challenge on Craig Casey, who didn't return from a HIA, and Munster kept their composure to claim an outstanding win.

Wing Shane Daly, lock RG Snyman and replacement back-row forward John Hodnett also claimed touchdowns, with out-half Jack Crowley kicking two conversions and a penalty.

The Bulls, despite fielding many of their international stars, had to be content with a losing bonus following tries by Elrigh Louw, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Johan Grobbelaar while Goosen added a penalty and two conversions.

The teams were separated by just one place and two points before kick-off and while Bulls dominated early possession they could make little headway against a well-organised Munster defence.

Munster were unlucky not to go in front when Murray’s 52-metre penalty attempt hit a post but they went ahead from their first major attack after 19 minutes when brilliant handling from their backs – sparked by centre Alex Nankivell – created a try for Daly that Crowley converted.

It was a short-lived advantage, though, with Bulls responding through a trademark score that showcased their enviable forward power.

Louw attacked from the back of a scrum and after Munster initially held him up there was no stopping the skipper a second time as he took three defenders over the line with him.

Goosen converted and then kicked a penalty but Munster were not to be denied a strong first-half finish as they regained the initiative when Snyman rounded off a prolonged spell of pressure and Crowley converted before adding a penalty to make it a 17-10 interval advantage.

The Bulls took only five minutes to cut their deficit, with Arendse crossing wide out from close range, and Munster could not hold wave after wave of phase-play.

Grobbelaar was the next beneficiary following a quickly-taken penalty as he breached Munster’s defence, with Goosen’s conversion completing a scoring burst of 12 points in just six minutes.

It was to be Goosen’s final scoring contribution as he was then sent off by Welsh referee Adam Jones following head-on-head contact with Munster’s replacement scrum-half Casey.

Munster immediately made their one-player advantage count, with Crowley’s cross-kick finding Hodnett, who displayed outstanding strength and awareness to crash over and tie things up at 22-22 before Murray’s late clincher sealed a famous and vital win for the province.

It continues a remarkable record for Munster down in South Africa, extending their unbeaten run in the Rainbow Nation to four games, following on from their title run last season.

Bulls: Willie Le Roux; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Sebastien de Klerk; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw; Ruan Vermaak, JF van Heerden; Cameron Hanekom, Reinhardt Ludwig, Elrigh Louw (capt).

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Janko Swanepoel, Mpilo Gumede, Zak Burger, Chris Smith, Devon Williams

Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O'Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, Joey Carbery, John Hodnett.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

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Accreditation: PA

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