Charlie O'Shea stars as Munster kickstart URC campaign with bonus-point win over Bulls

Twenty-year-old O’Shea, making his first competitive start after an impressive pre-season, scored two tries on the night

MAN OF THE MATCH: Munster's Charlie O’Shea scores his sides third try despite Zak Burger of the Bulls. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

MUNSTER 26 BULLS 22

A man of the match performance from academy rookie Charlie O’Shea helped propel Munster to their opening victory of the new season as they got their United Rugby Championship campaign up and running with a bonus-point victory over South Africa’s Bulls in Limerick on Saturday night.

Twenty-year-old O’Shea, making his first competitive start after an impressive pre-season, scored two tries, delivered a kicked assist for Diarmuid Kilgallen’s opening try while the UCC fly-half also kicked three conversions from four during his impactful 70 minutes on the field.

Munster replacement Alex Kendellen added the bonus-point fourth try as the province avenged their 45-14 quarter-final loss to the Bulls in last May’s URC play-off quarter-final.

Munster had been forced into a late change when starting lock Fineen Wycherley was withdrawn due to a knock, with Evan O’Connell promoted from the replacements to start for the second week in a row, this time alongside Tom Ahern.

Clayton McMillan used the development to alter his bench configuration, reverting to a five-three split between forwards and backs by introducing academy centre Gordon Wood as an extra back with Gavin Coombes handed an additional role as covering lock as well as No.8 alongside fellow back-row replacement Alex Kendellen.

The Munster bench was called quickly into action as loosehead prop Michael Milne looked to have twisted a knee after 11 minutes, his withdrawal handing a seasonal debut to Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman as the home side pressed for an early lead.

It was the visitors, though, which struck first, capitalising on Munster indiscipline to gain territory through penalties before launching off a second successive lineout drive, lock Ruan Vermaak powering over as the Bulls probed along the home tryline in the 15th minute.

Just three minutes separated the concession of the first try to the equalising score with O’Shea’s invention producing dividends as the fly-half launched a kick beyond Bulls’ tryline into the right corner, wing Diarmuid Kilgallen’s chase setting up an excellent catch and touchdown.

O’Shea added another two points with a well-executed touchline conversion to level at 7-7 but unfortunately for the try scorer, his impact on hitting the ground took its toll and Kilgallen was taken off shortly afterwards, with Wood replacing him and moving into midfield as Sean O’Brien switched from number 13 to the right wing for the second match in a row.

Munster kept their composure, however, and scored a psychological boost with a scrum penalty against the formidable Bulls pack to advance upfield and the pressure paid off just after the half-hour when O’Shea charged down his opposite number Curwin Bosch’s attempted clearance kick. The Munster apprentice followed up superbly to beat retreating number nine Zak Burger to the ball and touch down for a dream competitive maiden try, converting his own score to give his team a 14-7 lead.

Their advantage was short-lived, however, former Munster wing marking his return to Thomond Park after a summer move back to his native South Africa with a scything carry down the left on 34 minutes as the Bulls attacked off a scrum, the ball moved inside where tighthead prop Francois Klopp powered over. Bosch converted for the second time in the opening half and the Bulls went in level at 14-all for the half-time break.

Bosch was in action again to open the second-half scoring with a penalty after O’Shea was jackaled by No.8 Jeandre Rudolph three minutes after the restart, pushing the Bulls into a 17-14 lead.

Yet Munster were looking the more progressive and fluent side, and they got their reward on 55 minutes after TMO Stefano Roscini alerted referee Federico Vedovelli to a deliberate knock-on after a Craig Casey pass went astray. Munster kicked to the corner through their fly-half and from the resulting five-metre lineout and maul, a strong carry from No.8 Brian Gleeson saw the ball recycled back to the corner where O’Shea picked off the ball on the bounce to dive into the corner for his second try of the game.

The touchline conversion went narrowly wide, but the young fly-half had given his team a 19-17 lead heading into the final quarter. Munster kept the pressure on, with replacement hooker, former England tighthead prop Kieran Brookes efficient throwing lineouts to maintain a solid attacking platform while a seamless transition between front rows set up Munster’s bonus-point try as replacement Kendellen scored on 69 minutes, with O’Shea’s conversion pushing the home side into a 26-17 lead.

It proved to be O’Shea’s final involvement before making way for JJ Hanrahan as the academy player left to a rousing reception from the 10,318 crowd.

Bulls No.8 Jeandre Rudolph kept the Bulls in the hunt for a second victory of the season with a try on 74 minutes, though Bosch’s missed conversion kept Munster in a four-point lead and the Reds saw out the game by keeping the visitors pinned in their own half to run the clock down and give Clayton McMillan’s side a belated but deserved lift-off to their season.

MUNSTER: S Daly; D Kilgallen (G Wood, 22), S O’Brien, D Kelly, S McCarthy; C O’Shea (JJ Hanrahan, 70), C Casey - captain; M Milne (J Loughman, 11), M van der Merwe (K Brookes, 60), J Aungier (R Foxe, 60); T Ahern, E O’Connell; S Edogbo (G Coombes, 52), J Hodnett (A Kendellen, 55 - HIA), B Gleeson (S Edogbo 65-77 – HIA).

Replacement not used: B O’Donovan.

BULLS: H Kunene; S de Klerk, S Gans, S Jacobs (C Jooste, 45), T Abrahams (W le Roux, 60); C Bosch, Z Burger (P de Wet, 65); A Tshakweni (S Sithole, 55), J Else (J Uys, 55), F Klopper (K Mchunu, 55), R Vermaak, R Ludwig (JF van Heerden, 65); M Coetzee – captain (N Carr, 71), H Liebenberg, J Rudolph.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy).