'We never went away': Munster come up just short against Bulls
THE WALL: Brian Gleeson of Munster is tackled by Johan Grobbelaar of Vodacom Bulls with Michael Ala’alatoa of Munster in support. Pic: Darren Stewart/SHS/Inpho
Munster captain Craig Casey praised his team’s fight to take the Bulls to the wire at Loftus Versfeld a week after being thrashed 45-0 by the Sharks.
A superb second half effort from Munster wasn’t enough to topple the Bulls in Pretoria after a pulsating encounter at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls clung on for a 34-31 (halftime 14-7) win despite four second half tries from Munster. In truth, Munster were unlucky not to come away with a full five points from the game.
“We had no choice this week to be honest. It was a tough week on and off the pitch for Munster,” Casey said.
“We dug deep on Sunday and reviewed the Sharks and we wanted a reaction. Some stuff happened off the field with Munster during the week and we wanted to lift them and I hope they saw that in our fight. “We never went away, that was for them, that was for our families at home and all our friends that have stuck with us. It's been tough but I hope you saw our fight there.”
It was an excellent response after last week’s 45-0 loss against the Sharks in Durban. The Munster men showed fight and class throughout and claimed two valuable league points, although they would’ve wanted more.
Flyhalf Jack Crowley had a magnificent game and deserves no criticism, although his two missed conversions were the ultimate difference on the scoreboard. Opposite number Handre Pollard landed six from six at goal on the day.
“How good is Jack Crowley at the minute?” Casey said. “I mean, what a man. He led us really well this week. You could see his energy throughout the week. He demanded stuff as well so it was good.
“Looking around the huddle before the game, there was no way we were going to give up and we didn't. So, look here it is for the rest of the season. We’ve got to take two points here and drive on.” Trailing 14-7 at the break, Munster came out for the second half like a new team. They immediately put the Bulls under pressure and forced them on to the back foot.
Crowley released flank Alex Kendellen and he fed fellow back rower Tom Ahern, who finished a fine long-range try.
That put Munster back in the game, but the Bulls know how to make the most of scraps and moments later, when prop John Ryan knocked on, on the Bulls 22-metre line, the ball was hacked deep.
Livewire Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier was quickest to the ball for this second try of the match.
Ahern was soon on the scoresheet again with a close range finish after some excellent work from the pack, but Munster could not quite close the gap.
The bench added energy and power with the Edogbo brothers – Sean and Edwin providing bulk and destruction, but somehow the home team clung on.
When Pollard opted to kick two long-range second half penalties it underlined the pressure the Bulls were under.
“We were never going to go away,” Casey said. “It’s disappointing but we got two points and we can kick on from here for the rest of the season. Those might be two valuable points.
“It's a tough place to come this, but I think we stood up, relished the challenge and went after it.
“That’s what we said we want to be reviewing on Tuesday when we land is, 'did we go after it, were we brave enough and did we show a fight?' I think we did all those things.” Despite some familiar problems on this South African tour, such as a creaking scrum, Munster were in the scrap from the start on a sweltering Pretoria day.
They scored first, after a messy opening quarter that saw multiple handling errors from both sides without any clear scoring chances.
But after a deliberate knock on by Bulls wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, Crowley found a good touch from the penalty to set up a lineout in the red zone.
Munster secured the ball and ran a strong strike play, in which Crowley was prominent to create space for left wing Sean O’ Brien to score.
After last week’s shutout against the Sharks, it was a relief for the men in red to get on the board first.
Initially the Bulls were unable to make their few attacking opportunities count against a resilient Munster defence. When the Bulls went through phases, they were consistently met by a red wall that held firm.
It was no surprise then that the home team’s opening try came from long range via a brilliant break from Papier.
From the back of a stalled rolling maul on the halfway line, Papier sniped down the blindside, bamboozling Ahern and turning replacement back JJ Hanrahan, on for Calvin Nash, inside out to score under the crossbar.
Handre Pollard’s conversion drew the scores level on the half hour mark.
The home team were starting to get on top and even a head high tackle from Bulls captain Ruan Nortje that led to a yellow card did not immediately stem the momentum.
Instead the Bulls made the most of a knock-on by Munster No 8 Brian Gleeson on inside his half. Bulls centres Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans then had a hand in putting wing Canan Moodie away for the try.
In the final quarter the match remained in the balance and after Crowley launched a 50/22. From the lineout, and a few phases later, Crowley’s deft hands put fullback Ben O’Connor into a hole and he did the rest.
The Bulls though, had just stretched the lead when wing Cheswill Jooste finished from 50 metres after carving through the Munster defence. The former Junior Bok star is a beautifully balanced runner with an effortless change of pace.
Munster had a chance when Edin Edogbo smashed through the Bulls defensive wall for the team’s fifth try, giving the tourists hope of victory.
But after the restart veteran fullback Willie le Roux had the final say with an excellent 50/22 kick to settle the matter.
E Papier (2), C Moodie, C Jooste; H Pollard (4); Pollard (2).
S O’Brien, T Ahern (2), B O’Connor, E Edogbo; J Crowley (3)
15 W le Roux, 14 C Moodie (55-C Jooste), 13 S Gans, 12 H Vorster (72-D Kriel), 11 KL Arendse, 10 H Pollard, 9 E Papier (72-Z Burger), 8 N Carr (57-C Wiese), 7 E Louw (50-C Hanekom), 6 M Coetzee (captain), 5 R Nortje, 4 R Vermaak, 3 F Klopper (50-K Mchunu), 2 J Grobbelaar (50-M van Staden), 1 G Steenekamp (50-JH-Wessels).
15 B O’Connor, 14 C Nash (30-JJ Hanrahan), 13 D Kelly, 12 A Nankivell, 11 S O’Brien, 10 J Crowley, 9 C Casey (captain), 8 B Gleeson 42-(P Patterson), 7 A Kendellen, 6 T Ahern, 5 F Wycherley (42-S Edogbo), 4 J Kleyn (61-E Edogbo), 3 M Ala’alatoa (48- J Ryan), 2 D Barron (38-N Scannell), 1 M Milne (48-J Loughman).
H Davidson.
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