Bulls 22
Munster 27
Brenden Nel reports from Loftus Versfeld
MUNSTER PULLED OFF one of their greatest victories in the United Rugby Championship and sent out a clear warning that they won’t give up their title without a fight as they beat the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld 27-22.
To put the win in perspective, it was the first time the Bulls had lost to foreign opposition at their Loftus fortress since the start of the URC, a winning streak that ran for 21 consecutive games.
Graham Rowntree’s side enjoyed a touch of fortune in that the Bulls were reduced to 14 men in the 53rd minute when out-half Johan Goosen was red carded for a dangerous, awkward upright tackle on Craig Casey which shifted the momentum back to the away side.
At that stage the Bulls had come back from 17-10 down at halftime to lead 22-17 through second half tries by World Cup winner Kurt-Lee Arendse and hooker Johan Grobbelaar and looked like they were taking control of the game. Indeed, in Goosen’s illegal tackle, the ball spilled loose and Canan Moodie pounced, picking up the loose ball to run and score in the corner.
Had the try been allowed, the Bulls would have likely closed out the game.
But the momentum shift was massive, even though the Bulls defended admirably. John Hodnett went over in the corner, after a masterful Jack Crowley cross-kick and Conor Murray twisted his way out of a tackle to reach out and score a few minutes later to seal the victory — and the four-try bonus point.
It came after a first half where Shane Daly scored first from a Bulls lineout overthrow that was turned over and the overlap sent him over in the corner.
The Bulls hit back with a power try from Elrigh Louw before RG Snyman used his lengthy arms to retake the lead before the break for the visitors.
But this was a night for Munster to savour. A gritty performance, led up front by Tadhg Berne, who was lethal at the breakdown and some exceptional defence to stop a team normally rampant on home turf added another scalp to their growing list under Rowntree.
And in this form, who is to say they won’t make another late run to the title. The stars seem to be aligning for them.
Scorers for the Bulls:
Tries: Elrigh Louw, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Johan Grobbelaar
Cons: Johan Goosen (2)
Penalties: Goosen
Scorers for Munster:
Tries: Shane Daly, RG Snyman, John Hodnett, Conor Murray
Cons: Jack Crowley (3)
Penalty: Crowley
Vodacom 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
I’ll tell you what, that wasn’t half bad. Nice little pep after the HCup exit. Well done boys.
@Steve Mccarthy: A load left out there too!
Fair play to Munster, great win in one of the hardest countries on earth to win in.
That’s was as good a win I’ve seen from Munster since the final last year. Red card came at vital time as game was starting to turn in Bulls favour at that stage. But it was impressive win for sure.
@Ray Ridge: Fair ply Ray, at least you can take it back. massive win against a team that should have been way more at their own races.
@Thesaltyurchin: I always call it as I see. I didn’t think they would beat the Bulls away. But happy to acknowledge a good effort.
@Ray Ridge: Hey Ray nice to know your thoughts… but no bonus point for the bulls but the Reds !
PS it was a red all day long even Mr burger who tackled with head for the best part of decade !
Bench made a difference and the bulls were not expecting to be in a game come 50 mins
@damien reidy: Munster need to be at full strength. They struggled in previous games. Great to bring on the likes of Coombes, hodnett and Ahern. Pound for pound I think Hodnett is the hardest man I’ve seen to put on the floor.
@Ray Ridge: We Agree
@damien reidy: Also I think the coaching staff might have learnt from previous mistakes this year with a bench just not up to the task…
Strategy is multi focus and not just the starting 15 , all blacks and boks masters of exploiting tired legs in the last 3rd
@Ray Ridge: I’m a big fan of hodnett myself, hope he gets a go in green in the autumn games.
@J M: Would love to know if he has the tank for top fight. Really theres a heap of players in that mid-top pecking order that deserve a look at the next level.
Really great to see Zebo in form-ish … I’m delighted for him. Crowley was great (says this Innishannon man) and Murray really and truly upped his game.
Any team with Beirne and Snyman at 4/5 can beat anyone. Pity this partnership never got a chance to develop. Rest of team played great. Bench strength helped, something Munster haven’t had all year. Sending off did level the playing field (fortress effect,altitude)but you make your own fortune.
Well played Munster
Great win , Munster repeating their 2023 season finish by finding big performances in SA
Also Murray was superb , he is built to beat SA sides
@Owen ODonoghue: Yes, the much-maligned Murray was magnificent today. Even at the end when clearly injured he was throwing his body into tackles. A great man to have on your team when you are needing physical defense. Zebo also played very well and Hodnett and Coombes made a big impact off the bench.
Great win! Goes to show with even a little depth they can compete with anyone.
@Philyclever@eircom.net: Probably their best performance of the season, and no coincidence they had all (or close to all) their squad healthy and available.
Winning in South Africa isn’t for everyone it seems
That was a cracking match. Well done munster.
Played against 14 men for 30 minutes and scraped by. Yikes
@Dave Moran: You’re a massive clown at this stage Dave, get a new name start again.
@Dave Moran: go walk your dog !
@damien reidy: pity the dog!!
@Thesaltyurchin: just mute him
He’s such a tool
@Dave Moran: sausage comment as always
@Dave Moran: One of the biggest simpletons on here.
@John Google: “just mute him”. Are you 12 years old? Grow up and deal with the fact people have different opinions. You cant mute people in real life
@Thesaltyurchin: Touch a nerve did i? If it wasnt true you woulnd’t be so angry. Munster got lucky. Deal with it
@Thesaltyurchin: he’s just bitter his team was tonked.
@Dave Moran: I doubt you get to touch anyone, buddy.
@Dave Moran: Dave With The Fail
@Dave Moran: ispíní
@Dave Moran: Dave did I see you on Twitter asking Leinster for a travel guide to get to croker?? Be careful around Ballybough, they’ll see someone like you coming a mile away
@Comeonyouknow: lol he’s some ispíní alright.
@Dave Moran: You can’t stand it that Munster pulled off a great win can you?
@J M: Hoprfully!!
@J M: No, you saw the other dave moran.. Dont worry, I have special transport sorted to get in and out of the area as quicky as possible
@John Google: I cant do it :’(
@Thesaltyurchin: Salty you wouldn’t mute me anyway, I’m your daily source of entertainment
@Dave Moran: Dave you kinda look like a pudge Rolf Harris, I hope your love of trolling is confined to these pages on rugby matters…..anyway if you can’t give Munster their due on a fantastic win in an arena were the bulls never lose. Well then your saltiness’s and blatant attempts of winding up have no merit and lose all weight as they’re weak and humourless as it is merely obvious hatred rather than logical opinionated discussion. It’s like a teenager spewing hormonal rage.
@Dave Moran: you are some tool
@Dave Moran: dave go comment on the leinster game
Great win for Munster, well done. better side won .. Bit of a sour taste however with that red cad which looked ridiculous.
@Stuart: upright tackle, clear head to head and casey had to go off and failed a hia so had a high danger level. I’m not sure what was ridiculous about that red card?
@munsterman: General poor excuse for a tackle that’s been removed from the game … I guess it would be the Same logic from Stuart if a Man on the opposite side had executed the same abysmal technique
@munsterman: The mascots are taller than casey!! There has to be some leeway given in that situation
@Stuart: how would you be bitter about that? Goosen was upright and caught Casey directly in the head, with no mitigation. Hurt himself in the process, while Casey failed a HIA as a result and was out for the rest of the match. Not sure what you’d be bitter about. Not malicious but pretty stupid from Goosen.
@Brenda Collins: I’ve spent alot of time in South Africa… Head shots are rewarded as strong defence
@Stuart: no reason to be bigger about that. Just bad luck for Goosen. Murray and Crowley followed it up with tackles with identical technique but got lucky that their opponents chose not to milk it
@munsterman: ok maybe you are right looking at it again.guess these moments ruin games so was disappointing to see. Regardless , Munster deserved the win …
@Stuart: it was reckless to be fair , no attempt to drop his shoulder. Pity as Goosen was having a good game
@damien reidy: that doesn’t make them legal.
@teuO6nLS: pretty dreadful comment. Both Goosen and Casey were hurt in the tackle. Casey failed HIA, so we’re talking about brain injury here. No ‘milking’.
@Dave Moran: No leeway. The directive is clear: players responsibility is to lower tackle height. He absolutely made no attempt to therefore contact to the head at speed = red card.
@Dave Moran: he led with his head into the tackle…what more do you need for a red. Jaysus lad you haven’t a clue about rugby
@Brenda Collins: I agree completely with you … amazing to see that different interpretation of danger in other people’s eyes .. watch some NRL is like watching test dummies being slammed into walls
@Stuart: Maybe it was yellow, but he just runs in, no attempt. From a Munster perspective it was unfortunate that Casey also didn’t return, the tactics were working, Murray was clearly out on his feet, properly disrupted the intension.
@Dave Moran: I am surprised you are not blaming Casey for getting tackled like that and not being tall enough. That’s your usual anti-Casey invective.
Great team performance.Credit where credit is due RG was good.Best games from Murray and zedo in a long time.
@daniel flaherty: Crowley’s been kicking pretty well in the URC, top Irish flyhalf at 90%
Carbury a little behind at 80%
Am I the only one who is wondering why Crowley continues with the out-half’s duties (kicking for touch, goal kicking,etc), even after he’s been moved into centre?
@daniel flaherty: Why not? We seem to be obsessed in this country with 10s taking all the kicks. The best goal kicker / touch kicker should take the respective kicks.
@Paul Ennis: because Carbery is a better goal kicker?
@daniel flaherty: Yes. Yes you are the only one.
@daniel flaherty: Crowley is still a good kicker, probably better out of hand. Carbery will be gone next season, so the coach needs to back Crowley 100%.
I thought they were lucky with a bad red card decision but great win nonetheless. In particular Zebo was very good for the full 80 and lots of impact off the bench with a full squad this time. Build on this and they could be in another final.
On that performance Munster won’t be retaining any URC trophy. Red cost Bulls the game. They won’t be winning any trophy either.
@Jimmy Bean: Wow a little bit cynical there, Jimmy. I guess we all see what we want to see but I wouldn’t be so sure either team wouldn’t put it up to the team who you presumably support. They both did before.